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In situ energy dispersive X‐ray fluorescence analysis of rock art pigments from the ‘Abrigo dos Gaivões’ and ‘Igreja dos Mouros’ caves (Portugal)
Author(s) -
Nuevo M. J.,
Martín Sánchez A.,
Oliveira C.,
Oliveira J.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
x‐ray spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.447
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1097-4539
pISSN - 0049-8246
DOI - 10.1002/xrs.1373
Subject(s) - cave , painting , archaeology , mediterranean area , x ray fluorescence , art , manganese , rock art , geology , mediterranean climate , geography , fluorescence , materials science , physics , art history , metallurgy , quantum mechanics
A portable energy dispersive X‐ray fluorescence spectrometer was used to obtain the elemental composition of Neolithic rock art paintings of the ‘Abrigo dos Gaivões’ and ‘Igreja dos Mouros’ caves. These caves, located in the Esperança parish, Arronches' county, in the San Mamede's mountains (Portugal), belong to a group of spread shelters just next to the western Spanish border. Results show the strong presence of iron in bare rock, and this element can be clearly detected as the main component of the red paintings. No evidence of manganese was detected in either the brownish or the black paintings, contrary to other Neolithic paintings in the Mediterranean area. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.