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Micro‐Raman spectroscopy and ancient ceramics: applications and problems
Author(s) -
Medeghini Laura,
Lottici Pier Paolo,
De Vito Caterina,
Mignardi Silvano,
Bersani Danilo
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of raman spectroscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.748
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1097-4555
pISSN - 0377-0486
DOI - 10.1002/jrs.4583
Subject(s) - raman spectroscopy , gloss (optics) , pottery , ceramic , materials science , characterization (materials science) , mineralogy , spectroscopy , analytical chemistry (journal) , geology , archaeology , chemistry , composite material , nanotechnology , optics , physics , geography , chromatography , quantum mechanics , coating
Micro‐Raman spectroscopy is applied for the study of two classes of ancient ceramic artefacts showing different features and technological background, i.e. the fine‐grain Black Gloss Ware from Motya (Sicily, Italy) and the coarse‐grain pottery from Khirbet al‐Batrawy (Jordan). The characterization of the mineralogical composition of these ceramics allows exploring the firing conditions and the manufacturing process. In particular, μ‐Raman spectroscopy permits to define the mineralogical assemblage of the bulk of both groups of ceramic samples as well as the nature of the black gloss and superficial decorations. Moreover, μ‐Raman spectroscopy, allowing the identification of mineral phases in traces and describing as a consequence a more detailed mineralogical assemblage, can contribute to address issues concerning the provenance of the raw materials. The evaluation of the Raman results compared to those obtained by optical microscopy, X‐ray diffraction and electron microscopy highlights that Raman spectroscopy shows a great potential in the analysis of coarse‐grain and low fired ceramics, whereas it proves its limits in the analysis of fine and vitrified pottery class where the intergrowth of glass and crystalline phases provides Raman spectra not so easily interpretable. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.