Raman Study on Pompeii Potteries: The Role of Calcium Hydroxide on the Surface Treatment

Pottery samples from the Pompeii archaeological site were investigated by IR Raman spectroscopy and EDAX measurements. The analysis of the Raman spectra of the surfaces reveals the presence calcium hydroxide (peak at about 780 cm−1) while the calcium carbonate is totally absent. The comparative stud...

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Main Authors: Daniele Chiriu, Pier Carlo Ricci, Andrea Polcaro, Paolo Braconi, David Lanzi, Davide Nadali
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-01-01
Series:Journal of Spectroscopy
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/435026
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author Daniele Chiriu
Pier Carlo Ricci
Andrea Polcaro
Paolo Braconi
David Lanzi
Davide Nadali
author_facet Daniele Chiriu
Pier Carlo Ricci
Andrea Polcaro
Paolo Braconi
David Lanzi
Davide Nadali
author_sort Daniele Chiriu
collection DOAJ
description Pottery samples from the Pompeii archaeological site were investigated by IR Raman spectroscopy and EDAX measurements. The analysis of the Raman spectra of the surfaces reveals the presence calcium hydroxide (peak at about 780 cm−1) while the calcium carbonate is totally absent. The comparative studies on the carbonation effect of the surfaces were performed on laboratory grown samples of calcium hydroxide. The samples were treated at high temperature and exposed to different ambient conditions, and the analysis suggests that the original surfaces of Roman pottery were scattered by calcium hydroxide (limewash) before the cooking process in the furnace. The result of this surface treatment not only permits a vitrification of the surfaces but also seems to reduce the content of CO2 in the furnace atmosphere and then obtain a more oxidant ambient during the cooking of the pottery. These results give new insights on the real degree of knowledge of the Romans about the art of ceramics and more generally about chemistry and technologies.
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publishDate 2014-01-01
publisher Wiley
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series Journal of Spectroscopy
spelling doaj-art-b6931115aedb41e6952fb23bf2b77c882025-08-20T02:23:11ZengWileyJournal of Spectroscopy2314-49202314-49392014-01-01201410.1155/2014/435026435026Raman Study on Pompeii Potteries: The Role of Calcium Hydroxide on the Surface TreatmentDaniele Chiriu0Pier Carlo Ricci1Andrea Polcaro2Paolo Braconi3David Lanzi4Davide Nadali5Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Cagliari, s.p. n 8 Km 0.700, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, ItalyDipartimento di Fisica, Università di Cagliari, s.p. n 8 Km 0.700, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, ItalyDipartimento di Lettere-Lingue, Letterature e Civilta’ Antiche E Moderne, Università di Perugia, Via Armonica 3, 06123 Perugia, ItalyDipartimento di Lettere-Lingue, Letterature e Civilta’ Antiche E Moderne, Università di Perugia, Via Armonica 3, 06123 Perugia, ItalyDipartimento di Lettere-Lingue, Letterature e Civilta’ Antiche E Moderne, Università di Perugia, Via Armonica 3, 06123 Perugia, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze dell’Antichità, Sapienza Università di Roma, Via dei Volsci 122, 00185 Roma, ItalyPottery samples from the Pompeii archaeological site were investigated by IR Raman spectroscopy and EDAX measurements. The analysis of the Raman spectra of the surfaces reveals the presence calcium hydroxide (peak at about 780 cm−1) while the calcium carbonate is totally absent. The comparative studies on the carbonation effect of the surfaces were performed on laboratory grown samples of calcium hydroxide. The samples were treated at high temperature and exposed to different ambient conditions, and the analysis suggests that the original surfaces of Roman pottery were scattered by calcium hydroxide (limewash) before the cooking process in the furnace. The result of this surface treatment not only permits a vitrification of the surfaces but also seems to reduce the content of CO2 in the furnace atmosphere and then obtain a more oxidant ambient during the cooking of the pottery. These results give new insights on the real degree of knowledge of the Romans about the art of ceramics and more generally about chemistry and technologies.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/435026
spellingShingle Daniele Chiriu
Pier Carlo Ricci
Andrea Polcaro
Paolo Braconi
David Lanzi
Davide Nadali
Raman Study on Pompeii Potteries: The Role of Calcium Hydroxide on the Surface Treatment
Journal of Spectroscopy
title Raman Study on Pompeii Potteries: The Role of Calcium Hydroxide on the Surface Treatment
title_full Raman Study on Pompeii Potteries: The Role of Calcium Hydroxide on the Surface Treatment
title_fullStr Raman Study on Pompeii Potteries: The Role of Calcium Hydroxide on the Surface Treatment
title_full_unstemmed Raman Study on Pompeii Potteries: The Role of Calcium Hydroxide on the Surface Treatment
title_short Raman Study on Pompeii Potteries: The Role of Calcium Hydroxide on the Surface Treatment
title_sort raman study on pompeii potteries the role of calcium hydroxide on the surface treatment
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/435026
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