P10. Pigments in archaeology and art history as indicators of technological know-how, production areas, and commercial relations: spectroscopic imaging, minero-petrographic characterization, and chemometrics

The use of suitable inorganic pigments is a key aspect, as a matter of fact, in both paints and decorated ancient ceramics. This session will guest contributions from interdisciplinary study focused on understanding pigment technology in both paints and ceramic. Indeed, we strongly believe that such a complete piece of information is strongly needed to be used as an alluring source of information on technological know-how, production areas, and commercial relations as well as on commissioning and export/import, economic level, and social habits. Achieving this information involves a very complex job which requires the crossing investigation between classification, purely technological aspects and diagnostic items. Due to the small amount, heterogeneous distribution of the chromophores, small amount of sample available the combination of micron sensitive analytical techniques including μ-XRD, μ-XRF, and μ-FTIR (also with synchrotron radiation) and SEM is needed. On the other hand, minero-petrographical analysis, spectroscopic imaging, and chemometrics are also required to determine the interaction between glazes - decorations and ceramic body due to firing processes as well as the stability of traditional inorganic pigments in paints under a variety of conditions (climate and biological activity), thus allowing a fundamental comprehension of pigments composition and of their technology variation through time.