Article (Scientific journals)
Maya blue-green pigments found in Calakmul, Mexico: a study by Raman and UV-visible spectroscopy
Moreno, Renata Garcia; Strivay, David; Gilbert, Bernard
2008In Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 39 (8), p. 1050-1056
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
 

Files


Full Text
MayaBlue.pdf
Publisher postprint (173.37 kB)
Download

All documents in ORBi are protected by a user license.

Send to



Details



Keywords :
archaeometry; pigment; Maya
Abstract :
[en] After more than two decades of fieldwork in the Maya archaeological site of Calakmul, Mexico, numerous remnants of blue and green pigments have been reported on wall paintings, as well as on funerary paraphernalia, such as masks, miniatures and vases. The importance of these pigments is linked to the sacred values that Maya people associate with blue and green colours since pre-Columbian times. These hues symbolise water, and are therefore associated with fertility and regeneration. This paper aims to perform a survey of the blue and green pigments used in the Early Classic and Late Classic periods in Calakmul (300-850 A.D.), in order to have a better understanding of their chemical composition and origin. Analyses were performed on microsamples using Raman and UV-visible spectroscopies to evaluate the possibilities that these techniques can offer in future in situ researches on Mesoamerican archaeological materials and objects. With these analyses, we have documented a large blue-green chromatic palette, which includes the earliest Blue Maya and Green Maya known to date, as well as malachite, pseudomalachite and an unknown-up-to-now blue-green mineral pigment, veszelyite, used specifically for ritual objects. The results indicate a careful selection of imported products and the mastering of a complex ancient Maya pictorial tradition. Copyright (c) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Disciplines :
Physical, chemical, mathematical & earth Sciences: Multidisciplinary, general & others
Archaeology
Author, co-author :
Moreno, Renata Garcia;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Centre Européen d'Archéométrie
Strivay, David  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de physique > Physique nucléaire, atomique et spectroscopie
Gilbert, Bernard ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de chimie (sciences) > Chimie analytique et électrochimie
Language :
English
Title :
Maya blue-green pigments found in Calakmul, Mexico: a study by Raman and UV-visible spectroscopy
Publication date :
2008
Journal title :
Journal of Raman Spectroscopy
ISSN :
0377-0486
eISSN :
1097-4555
Publisher :
John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, United States - New York
Volume :
39
Issue :
8
Pages :
1050-1056
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Available on ORBi :
since 31 December 2009

Statistics


Number of views
512 (12 by ULiège)
Number of downloads
443 (8 by ULiège)

Scopus citations®
 
21
Scopus citations®
without self-citations
21
OpenCitations
 
21

Bibliography


Similar publications



Contact ORBi