IBA and complementary spectroscopic methods for identification of Zagreb mummy’s pigments

Abstract

Identification of pigments on archaeological objects is crucial for understanding the ancient graphical technology and applied raw materials. This paper presents a thorough study of the artifacts from the Zagreb mummy's inventory. The investigations were carried out on the cartonnage from Zagreb mummy’s inventory and on the one of the most important exhibits from the Archaeological museum in Zagreb, the Linen book of Zagreb (Liber linteus Zagrabiensis). The results were compared. For this purpose, pigments palette of the cartonnage and black and red pigments of the Linen book were investigated using several analytical methods, such as ion beam microprobe, X-ray fluorescence analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and colorimetry. The goal was to explain elemental and molecular composition of original pigments, define stoichiometry of pigment layers and to identify layers of cartonnage color preparation.