Mobile Spectroscopy in Archaeometry: Some Case Study

Vincenza Crupi,Grazia Vera Spagnolo,Valentina Venuti,Lucia Denaro,Raffaele Persico,Paola Donato,Domenico Majolino,Carlo Sansotta,Giuseppe Paladini,Sebastiano D’Amico,Mauro Saccone

doi:10.1155/2018/8295291

Abstract

We provide an overview of recent results obtained by the innovative application of mobile spectroscopy for in situ investigation in archaeometry. Its growing relevance is linked to the great advantages of avoiding the transport and eventual damage of precious artifacts and of allowing the analysis of those specimens that are, for example, built into infrastructures or in some way permanently affixed. In this context, some case studies of combined instrumental approaches, involving X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and Raman spectroscopy, integrated by infrared thermography (IRT), are, in particular, discussed: the archaeological site of Scifì (Forza d’Agrò, province of Messina, Italy) and the Abbey of SS. Pietro e Paolo d’Agrò (Casalvecchio Siculo, province of Messina, Italy). In the first case, the elemental composition, as obtained by XRF, of two types of mortars belonging to two different chronological phases, dated back between the 3rd and the 5th century AD, allowed us to hypothesize a same origin area of their raw materials and a different production technique. Again, the combined use of XRF and Raman spectroscopies, supported by IRT technique, on pottery fragments of Greek-Hellenistic age and late imperial period, furnished important information concerning the receipts for the pigmenting agents of the finishing layer, allowing in some cases their unambiguous identification. In the second case, XRF data collected on bricks and stones from the external facade of the abbey allowed us to make some hypothesis concerning the provenance of their constituents materials, supposed to be in the area of valley of the river Agrò.

Highlights

Archaeometry is a multidisciplinary research area, involving skills varying from physics to chemistry, from material science to geology and biology, called to give help in open problems of humanistic sciences such as archaeology and anthropology.The essential need to preserve valuable works of art imposes the use of specific techniques that can simultaneously furnish much valuable information minimizing the risk of damage
We provide an overview of recent results obtained by the innovative application of mobile spectroscopy for in situ investigation in archaeometry
The use of mobile instrumentation becomes crucial in art and archaeology when specific archaeometric requirements need to be satisfied on objects that cannot be moved into the laboratory

Summary

Introduction

Archaeometry is a multidisciplinary research area, involving skills varying from physics to chemistry, from material science to geology and biology, called to give help in open problems of humanistic sciences such as archaeology and anthropology.The essential need to preserve valuable works of art imposes the use of specific techniques that can simultaneously furnish much valuable information minimizing the risk of damage. The best experimental approach consists in applying complementary noninvasive or, at least, microdestructive methodologies. In this sense, a big step forward is represented by in situ investigation [1,2,3,4], in which Scifì. (b) the spectrometer can be carried onto the site, museum, or whatever, considerably reducing any risk of damage. These direct studies [5, 6] can be performed by (i) transportable instrumentation: spectrometers can be carried from one site to another in cars or vans.

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Conclusion