What Is The Micro-Raman Analysis Of Early Christian Chapels?
MICRO-RAMAN ANALYSIS OF EARLY CHRISTIAN FRESCOES IN EGYPT
Hussein H. Marey Mahmoud
Laboratory of Mural Paintings Conservation, Department of Conservation, Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo University, P.O. 12613 Giza, Egypt, marai79@hotmail.com
ABSTRACT
The early Christian cemetery in Egypt is located at Kharga Oasis in the western desert. The cemetery consists of 263 mud-brick chapels dating back to the 4th century AD. In the present study, micro-Raman analysis was used to study micro samples from the paint layers of the chapels murals. Raman spectra were collected in the near infra red excitation line (785nm) of a diode laser source. The identified pigments were red ochre (hematite) with different tonalities, yellow ochre (goethite), green earth and carbon black from vegetable origin. A high quantity of TiO2 anatase phase was found in the red pigment samples. The analyses showed the continuous presence of calcium carbonate (calcite polymorph) in the underlying layers accomplished with the absence of organic materials confirm the use of fresco technique.
Keywords: Christian Frescoes, Kharga Oasis, Egypt, Micro-Raman
INTRODUCTION
The early Christian necropolis of El-Bagawt is located about 3km from the centre of El-Kharga Oasis in the western desert of Egypt. Kharga Oasis is located to the west of the Nile valley, about 550 km to the South of Cairo. El-Bagawat is perhaps the oldest major Christian cemetery in the world; it consists of a vast expanse of domed mud brick mausoleums and underground …show more content…
Two layers can be easily distinguished, the first one is the coarse layer 'arriccio' and the second layer is the fine layer 'intonaco'. The observations on similar samples from Coptic monuments in Egypt showed that large grains of Nile sands were used as filler in the lime-based plaster layers.
Micro-Raman
Hussein H. Marey Mahmoud
Laboratory of Mural Paintings Conservation, Department of Conservation, Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo University, P.O. 12613 Giza, Egypt, marai79@hotmail.com
ABSTRACT
The early Christian cemetery in Egypt is located at Kharga Oasis in the western desert. The cemetery consists of 263 mud-brick chapels dating back to the 4th century AD. In the present study, micro-Raman analysis was used to study micro samples from the paint layers of the chapels murals. Raman spectra were collected in the near infra red excitation line (785nm) of a diode laser source. The identified pigments were red ochre (hematite) with different tonalities, yellow ochre (goethite), green earth and carbon black from vegetable origin. A high quantity of TiO2 anatase phase was found in the red pigment samples. The analyses showed the continuous presence of calcium carbonate (calcite polymorph) in the underlying layers accomplished with the absence of organic materials confirm the use of fresco technique.
Keywords: Christian Frescoes, Kharga Oasis, Egypt, Micro-Raman
INTRODUCTION
The early Christian necropolis of El-Bagawt is located about 3km from the centre of El-Kharga Oasis in the western desert of Egypt. Kharga Oasis is located to the west of the Nile valley, about 550 km to the South of Cairo. El-Bagawat is perhaps the oldest major Christian cemetery in the world; it consists of a vast expanse of domed mud brick mausoleums and underground …show more content…
Two layers can be easily distinguished, the first one is the coarse layer 'arriccio' and the second layer is the fine layer 'intonaco'. The observations on similar samples from Coptic monuments in Egypt showed that large grains of Nile sands were used as filler in the lime-based plaster layers.
Micro-Raman