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Preliminary analysis of Palaeolithic black pigments in plaquettes from the Parpalló cave (Gandía, Spain) carried out by means of non-destructive techniques

Preliminary analysis of Palaeolithic black pigments in plaquettes from the Parpalló cave (Gandía, Spain) carried out by means of non-destructive techniques

Authors :
Francesca Novelli
Clodoaldo Roldán
Sonia Murcia
Valentín Villaverde
Isabel Rodenas
Source :
Journal of Archaeological Science. 40:744-754
Publication Year :
2013
Publisher :
Elsevier BV, 2013.

Abstract

Parpallo cave (Gandia, Spain) is one of the most important Palaeolithic sites in the Spanish Mediterranean region. It is characterized by a mobiliary art whose archaeological sequence covers a dilated period (26,000–11,000 BP) and includes plaquettes decorated with black and different shades of red and yellow pigments. The aim of this paper is to present the results of analyses of the nature of black pigments used in the decoration of Parpallo plaquettes. The analyses were carried out by a non-destructive technique, by means of EDXRF. Furthermore, a colorimetric data bank has been created for conservation purposes. EDXRF measurements directly identify the use of manganese black pigments and indirectly the use of wooden charcoal based black pigments, in both zoomorphic motifs and undefined signs. No differentiation between manganese and non-manganese based black pigments was found from colorimetric measurements, but the data obtained will prove to be a useful reference for further studies as pigments fade with time.

Details

ISSN :
03054403
Volume :
40
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Journal of Archaeological Science
Accession number :
edsair.doi...........2a1d2ded03ca5711bb173694f3fe7ab5
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2012.07.015