1,720,978 research outputs found
Salute e cosmesi nell’età del bronzo. Le evidenze da Vallese di Oppeano
No full textNo abstract availabl
Exploring Early Distillation Hypotheses: Investigating Unique Pottery from Tepe Sagzabad on the Central Iranian Plateau (Iron Age)
No full textTepe Sagzabad (2200 BC to 500 BC), located in the northwestern region of Iran’s central plateau, lies along a key east-west trade route on the Iranian Plateau. This site faces numerous challenges, including seasonal floods, and seismic activity. In 2016, the excavation of Trench 6 unearthed a distinctive vessel in Context 6006, characterized by a closed head, knob-shaped top, and side handles. Its unusual form suggests similarities to traditional alembics used in distillation, sparking debate over its function. Chemical analysis revealed secondary crystallizations such as gypsum and calcite, likely a result of environmental weathering, but no dairy lipid residues were found, challenging the theory of their use in milk production. This study compares Tepe Sagzabad vessels with similar artifacts, offering insights into the development of early distillation technology in the region. These findings highlight the complexity of reconstructing ancient technological systems and emphasize the need for further research to understand early distillation practices on the Iranian Plateau. This study serves as a preliminary exploration of distillation-related artefacts in prehistoric Iran, offering a unique case for future comparative analyses
Four shades of black: Non-invasive scientific studies on the painted potteries from Shahr-i Sokhta, eastern Iran
No full textShahr-i Sokhta in east of Iran represents different stages of settlements from the fourth to the second millennium BC. A large assemblage of ceramics shards has been unearthed from Shahr-i Sokhta many of which are decorated with different shades of black, yellow and red colours. Micro X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF) and micro-Raman spectroscopy (μ-Raman) on some seventy painted shards from Shahr-i Sokhta with polychrome, bi-chrome and monochrome decorations showed haematite and goethite as red and yellow decorations, respectively. Black decorations, however, consisted of four main groups including carbon black, magnetite, haematite and jacobsite. This paper represents a successful application of non-invasive spectroscopic methods for identifying pigments on archaeological ceramics
Micro-raman spectroscopy study of pigments used on the potteries of Shahr-I Sūkhté (fourth to third millennium BC), South-East Iran
No full textThe decorated potteries of Shahr-i Sūkhté archaeological site (fourth to third millennium BC) have been
grouped into two types: local and imported polychrome potteries. Red, brown, and black are the variety
of colors used on the Local potteries, which are mostly monochrome and, less-frequently, bichrome.
On the polychrome potteries, however, other than the pre-mentioned colors, orange and yellow can
also be seen, which are often juxtaposed in a single pottery shred. In this study, pigments used in both
types were studied by micro-Raman spectroscopy. The results showed that the black manganese oxide
(hausmannite, Mn3O4), the black iron oxide (magnetite, Fe3O4), and the red iron oxide (hematite, Fe2O3)
have been used to decorate the local potteries. On the other hand, red, orange, and yellow hydroxides
of iron (i.e. hematite, goethite, and limonite respectively) were identified on the imported potteries.
Moreover, the results showed that the black color on the imported potteries is carbon. The presence of
carbon on the imported potteries demonstrates that they have most probably been decorated after the
firing process
The use of a natural chabazite-rich zeolitic tuff improved struvite precipitation and nutrient recovery from anaerobically digested wastewater
No full textThe use of a natural chabazite-rich zeolitic tuff improved struvite precipitation and nutrient recovery from anaerobically digested wastewate
The use of a natural chabazite-rich zeolitic tuff improved struvite precipitation and nutrient recovery from anaerobically digested wastewater
No full textGilding technology on haft rang tiles from three Timurid monuments (15th century A.D.) in eastern Iran: an assessment for reproduction
No full textMicrostructure, Chemistry and Mineralogy Approach for the Diagnostics of Metallic Finds of the Tomba della Biga (Adria, Italy)
No full textThis work is focused on the characterization of metallic finds that are part of an ancient war biga from the Tomba della Biga, using different approaches for the diagnostics and also the conservation of this important cultural heritage. The materials analyzed were brought to light in the necropolis of Canal Bianco (Adria, Italy). The samples were analyzed using Optical Reflected Light Microscopy (ORLM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and micro-Raman Spectroscopy (µ-RS). The results highlighted the occurrence of two different alloys (Fe and Cu-Sn-bronze) showing important structural and textural variations. These results, along with µ-RS, gave details on the surface and subsurface morphology, as well as the microstructures and the chemical and mineralogical composition of the finds. In particular, µ-RS highlighted the presence of magnetite and goethite as the main mineralogical phases for Fe-samples and malachite, azurite and Cu-oxide for bronze samples. In addition, an attempt was made to trace the manufacturing process, the purity of the alloys and the degree of slagging. Results of analytical studies show corrosion products of the samples which could be evidence of metallurgical aspects. The good state of conservation due to favorable conditions in the burial environment preserved the metal finds from intense corrosion, supporting the hypothesis that the samples reached equilibrium with soil during their life in the burial environment. This proposed methodology based on the microstructure, chemistry and mineral microanalysis allows the diagnostic and evaluation of the state of conservation of metallic finds
Archaeometric studies in pre-colonial guarani ceramic production (Taquari, Brazil)
No full textThe archeological site RS-TQ-141 is located in Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) and belongs to the pre-colonial Guarani Tradition (between fifth and seventeenth century). The site extends to the bank of the Taquari River. About 200 small fragments of ceramic from the site present internal and/or external coating surfaces. Archaeometry analyses were applied in order to understand coating application mechanism. X-ray Fluorescence (XFR) analyses revealed that the main elements are iron, titanium, potassium, and calcium. Applying the micro Fourier Transform Interferometer (ATR-FTIR) method it was possible to differentiate white and red coatings produced with different types of (ocher) clays. ATR-FTIR was applied in order to try to distinguish the vessels use. The coatings were produced with the same groups of clays used for the manufacture of ceramics. The presence of at least two groups of clay is recorded: montmorillonite-like and kaolinite-like. The white coatings can be distinguished in the FTIR spectra by the presence of a carbonate peak. From this research, there does not seem to be any difference between internal and external coatings. Carbonyl materials were detected, both in the coating and in the production of the ceramics; the latter is probably related to pyrolysis
Rationalist architecture in rural villages: petro-morphological characterization of natural asbestos fibers in decorative plasters used for artificial stones
No full textAt the beginning of the twentieth century, artificial stones became commonly used as structural building materials, masonry materials, and architectural decorative elements. The main purpose of this work was to characterize the building materials used in a historical building in Codigoro, a small town near Ferrara, northeastern Italy. This building was constructed according to the Italian rationalist rules for monumental architecture and is an example of the rationalist architecture found in rural villages, which uses innovative materials and decorations including artificial stone. The samples analyzed in this work were imitation natural stone, such as “fake travertine” and “fake Ceppo di Grè”, composed of reinforced concrete slabs coated with white mortar. Asbestos minerals have been observed in the fillers in these materials. Petrographic, mineralogical, and chemical characterization of samples of artificial stones and concrete was performed with optical transmitted light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analyses. The results revealed chemical and biological degradation in almost all the artificial stones examined and enabled identification of the presence of calcite, iron oxychloride complexes, and asbestos lizardites used as fillers in two of the analyzed samples. This study aimed to describe a general investigation methodology used to examine the artificial stone façades of the Ex Casa del Fascio of Codigoro, whose architecture is particularly representative of the rationalist architecture in rural villages. The results highlight the relevance of compatible and suitable conservation measures that should be monitored during all restoration interventions to minimize post-degradation fracturing and transformation into elements harmful to human health and the environment
- …
