title: A multi-analytical approach for the characterization of powders from the Pompeii archaeological site.
abstract: Nine black powders found in Pompeii houses in three different types of bronze vessels (cylindrical theca atramentaria, unguentaries, and aryballoi) were characterized in order to assess a correspondence between the composition and the type of vessel and, possibly, to verify if these powders were inks or not. For the compositional characterization, a multi-analytical approach was adopted, which involved the use of scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray, Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy, Raman, X-ray diffraction, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and pyrolysis GC/MS. Powders contained in cylindrical theca atramentaria form a homogeneous group, and their organic and inorganic compositions suggest that they were writing inks, while powders contained in unguentaries and aryballoi could have had several different uses, including writing inks and cosmetics. Furthermore, the composition profile of the powders found in cylindrical cases shows that, at 79 AD: , in Pompeii, carbon-based inks were still used for writing, and iron gall inks had not been introduced yet.
authors: Department of Materials Science, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy. carmen.canevali@unimib.it
authors: Carmen
authors: C
authors: Canevali
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Gentile
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Orlandi
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: Modugno
authors: Jeannette Jacqueline
authors: JJ
authors: Lucejko
authors: Maria Perla
authors: MP
authors: Colombini
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Brambilla
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Goidanich
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Riedo
authors: Oscar
authors: O
authors: Chiantore
authors: Pietro
authors: P
authors: Baraldi
authors: Cecilia
authors: C
authors: Baraldi
authors: Maria Cristina
authors: MC
authors: Gamberini