Characterization of Wallpaintings from the Caliphal Baths of Cordoba (Spain) by X-Ray Diffraction and Raman Microspectroscopy

Abstract

Wallpainting fragments from the Caliphal Baths of Cordoba, Spain, were studied in this work for the first time. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman microspectroscopy allowed the chemical nature of the pigments used by the Arabic artists of the time to be identified. All pigments were applied over a gypsum priming layer. The white, red, and yellow colors used were obtained from gypsum, hematite, and goethite, respectively. Some pigments were prepared by mixing these materials. The analytical techniques used also allowed the mortar material to be identified. The results of this study may be useful to develop effective conservation strategies for archaeological remains.

Keywords:

• Hematite
• goethite
• gypsum
• lime
• Raman microspectroscopy
• X-ray diffraction (XRD

Additional information

Funding

The authors wish to acknowledge funding of this work by Spain's Ministry of Science and Education (Project MAT2013-44463-R), Junta de Andalucía, FEDER Funds, Ramón Areces Foundation. Also, we wish to thank the Archaeological Museum of Córdoba to provide us the fragments for its study.