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Abstract: This work presents the spectroscopic results of the investigations of ancient pottery remains excavated in ancient Ainos (Enez—Turkey). The FT-IR and micro-Raman spectroscopic study of the pottery remains belonging to fifth and sixth century BC allowed us to identify the mineral composition and to discuss the firing conditions. EDXRF and XRD were used as complementary techniques. To estimate the upper limit of the firing temperature of the pottery fragments, the specimens were refired up to 800°C. Comparison of the second derivative profiles of the IR spectra of original and corresponding refired pottery fragments allows us to estimate the upper limit of firing temperature. Spectroscopic results indicated that the potteries were fired to a temperature less than 800°C in oxidising atmosphere. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Mineralogical compositions as well as firing conditions of black and red figure pottery shards, belonging to 4th-6th century BC, excavated at the archeological site Ainos (Enez-Turkey), were investigated using Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR), micro-Raman, and X-Ray Powder Diffraction (XRPD) techniques. Raw clay, obtained from a clay bed, that was unearthed during the archeological excavations at the same site, was also analyzed for comparison. To determine the firing temperature of the pottery shards, ceramic tablets were prepared from this raw clay sample (in three different firing temperatures: 650, 700 and 900 °C) and analyzed. The results allowed us to identify the mineral composition and to discuss the firing conditions. Chemometric analysis on the IR data was performed for revealing the distinct groups. [Display omitted] • Ancient pottery shards and clay unearthed in the excavations of Enez were studied together. • Ceramic tablets, prepared in three different firing temperatures from the excavated clay sample, were investigated. • FT-IR, micro-Raman and XRD techniques were applied to investigate mineral composition and firing temperature. • Chemometric analysis on IR data was performed for revealing distinct groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ten terra-cotta sarcophagi, together with a terra-cotta aryballos (perfume jar), excavated in Su Terazisi necropolis of Enez-Turkey (Ancient Ainos), were investigated by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA), to determine the concentration of thirty two chemical elements: Na, K, Ca, Fe, Sc, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Sb, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Yb, Lu, Hf, Ta, Th and U. The dataset was submitted to multivariate statistical analysis. The classification was done by cluster analysis. The results demonstrated the occurrence of two different groups of terra-cotta samples. Group I contains nine sarcophagi and terra-cotta aryballos whereas group II contains only one sample (E09-ST5-M26). High correlations between La and Ce (r² = 0.92), and U and Th (r² = 0.91) indicated that local clay was used for manufacturing the terra-cotta sarcophagi and aryballos but probably the claybed used for E09-ST5-M26 was different from that of others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some metal ornamented textile specimens and a textile button, excavated from Ancient Ainos (Enez - Turkey), have been investigated using FTIR and EDXRF spectrometry, for the purpose of material identification. FTIR spectral results indicated that textiles were made from partially degummed Bombyx mori silk. The IR spectral investigation of the textile button revealed that some cellulose fillings were used inside the button. The EDXRF analysis of the metal ornaments showed that they were silver plated copper. Surface morphology of the textiles and the metal ornaments were investigated by SEM images. It was shown that textile fibers were highly degraded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ancient glass fragments excavated in the archaeological district Enez (Ancient Ainos)–Turkey were investigated by combined Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometry techniques. Multi-elemental contents of 15 glass fragments that belong to Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Periods, were determined by INAA. The concentrations of twenty six elements (Na, K, Ca, Sc, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Rb, Sr, Sb, Cs, Ba, Ce, Sm, Eu, Tb, Yb, Lu, Hf, Ta, Au and Th), which might be present in the samples as flux, stabilizers, colorants or opacifiers, and impurities, were examined. Chemometric treatment of the INAA data was performed and principle component analysis revealed presence of 3 distinct groups. The thermal history of the glass samples was determined by FTIR spectrometry. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The samples obtained from nine different places of Ataturk portrait (oil on canvas, 86cm×136cm) by Feyhaman Duran (1886–1970), one of the famous Turkish painters of the 20th century, together with five pigment samples (two different white, two different yellow and blue), obtained as powders from artist''s paint box, were analysed by EDXRF, FT-IR and micro-Raman spectroscopic methods, in order to characterise the pigments used by the artist. Informative Raman signals were not obtained from most of the samples of the portrait, due to huge fluorescence caused by the presence of impurities and organic materials in the samples, however the Raman spectrum of the sample from skin coloured part of the portrait and the pigment samples obtained from the paint box of the artist were found to be very informative to shed light on the determination of the pigments used. Analysis revealed the presences of chrome yellow (PbCrO4), strontium yellow (SrCrO4) and Cadmium yellow (CdS) as yellow, chromium oxides (Cr2O3 and Cr2O3·2H2O) as green, natural red ochre as red, brown ochre as brown and ivory black or bone black (C+Ca3(PO4)2) and manganese oxides (Mn2O3 and MnO2) as black pigments, in the composition of the Ataturk portrait. Lead white (2PbCO3·Pb(OH)2), calcite (CaCO3), barite (BaSO4), zinc white (ZnO) and titanium white (TiO2) were used as extenders to lighten the colours and/or as for ground level painting. Powder pigment samples, obtained from the paint box of artist, were found to be mixed pigments rather than pure ones. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this study, painting materials and body samples of the decorated terra-cotta sarcophagi, and the body samples of six terra-cotta sarcophagi, recently excavated in Ancient Ainos (Enez) Turkey, were investigated, using the FT-IR spectrometry. EDXRF spectrometry was used as a complementary technique. The experimental results allowed us to identify the mineralogical composition of body samples and main pigments of the decorated parts of the terra-cotta sarcophagi. Spectroscopic results revealed that the investigated samples were fired to a temperature less than 750°C, in the oxidising atmosphere. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]