Abstract
ABSTRACT A multi-analytical approach was used to characterize color remains from Xalla, a Teotihuacan palace complex (project Teotihuacan, Elite and Government. Excavations in Xalla led by Linda R. Manzanilla). Color samples were obtained from polished lithic instruments and pigment ores. Those samples were analyzed combining microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. Our results coincide with previous studies in Teotihuacan, with the chromatic palette displaying a predominance of iron oxides such as hematite, yellow ochre and natural earths, as well as malachite, celadonite and glauconite. We have enlarged the corpus of raw materials with the characterization of jarosite and bone white and mica as aggregate. The identification of raw materials crossed with functional analysis of polished lithic artefacts suggests a production and application process for the pigmenting materials that were divided in four phases, from the crushing of the raw material to the application and finishing of the painted surfaces.
Highlights
The cultural study of coloring materials in ancient civilizations includes the characterization of raw materials, analysis of the procurement process, transport, storage, production, acquisition and use
The chromatic palette found in this city includes the characteristic “Teotihuacan red” or rojo guinda, orange, pink, yellow, green and blue, each of them with various middle shades and hues (Magaloni Kerpel 1996, 2003, 2017; Martínez García et al 2012)
The chromatic variety observed, the fine granulometry of the pigments and the wide tonal variety of the colors allow us to place these pigments in the 2nd-3rd technical phase of Teotihuacan mural painting (Tlamimilolpa-Xolalpan, AD 200-550) (Magaloni Kerpel 1996)
Summary
The cultural study of coloring materials in ancient civilizations includes the characterization of raw materials, analysis of the procurement process, transport, storage, production, acquisition and use. The chromatic palette found in this city includes the characteristic “Teotihuacan red” or rojo guinda (hematite or natural earths), orange (hematite mixed with lepidocrosite), pink (hematite mixed with calcite), yellow (lepidocrosite or goethite), green (malachite) and blue (azurite), each of them with various middle shades and hues (Magaloni Kerpel 1996, 2003, 2017; Martínez García et al 2012) This chromatic palette was applied in the urban architecture, decorating the walls with rich mural paintings (Magaloni Kerpel 2017; Miller 1973; Millon 1972), in polychrome stuccoed ceramics (Conides 2018; ÓNeil 2017), as well as in varied sculptural expressions and in plastic arts made of varied materials such as shells and textiles (Manzanilla et al 2011; Rodríguez Galicia, Valadez Azúa, and Martínez Mayén 2017) or in funeral practices, both for practical and symbolic purposes (Doménech Carbó et al 2012; Vázquez de Ágredos Pascual and Manzanilla 2016)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
