title: Analytical studies of the Alexandrovo Thracian tomb wall paintings.
abstract: A profound study of samples obtained from Thracian tomb wall paintings at Alexandrovo, Bulgaria (dating back to the fourth century BC) were carried out by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR FTIR), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The current work provides a glimpse of the ingenious construction and painting techniques used in Thracian tomb at Alexandrovo. The results suggest that beeswax was used as a paint binder and also revealed presence of various nano-materials.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Organic Chemistry with Center of Phytochemistry, BAS, Sofia, Bulgaria. Electronic address: zornitza@orgchm.bas.bg.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Glavcheva
authors.affiliation: Institute of Organic Chemistry with Center of Phytochemistry, BAS, Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yancheva
authors.affiliation: Institute of Organic Chemistry with Center of Phytochemistry, BAS, Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Velcheva
authors.affiliation: Institute of Organic Chemistry with Center of Phytochemistry, BAS, Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stamboliyska
authors.affiliation: Institute of Mineralogy and Crystallography, BAS, Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Petrova
authors.affiliation: New Bulgarian University, 21, Montevideo Street, Res. Quarter Ovcha Kupel, Sofia 1618, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Petkova
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AT, UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lalev
authors.affiliation: National Academy of Art, Faculty of Applied Arts, Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Todorov
keywords: Archaeology; Beeswax; DSC; EDS; FTIR; HR-TEM