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Abstract
Integrated analysis of pigments of the murals and sculptures in Mogao Grottoes, China, is reported. Polarized light microscopy was used for the characterization of pigment appearance, scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy was employed to characterize the microstructure and provide elemental analysis, and Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopies were utilized for the identification of the pigments. The results revealed that the red pigments were minium, hematite, and cinnabar that were combined to obtain various shades of red. The blue pigment was lazurite, the green pigments were atacamite and azurite, the white pigment was calcium carbonate, and the black pigment was carbon. The composition of the black pigment in Mogao Grottoes was identified for the first time. This study demonstrates the advantages and limitations of common analytical instruments for pigment identification, and it is suggested that Raman spectroscopy is the most appropriate instrument for identifying archaeological pigments.