Colour of the past in South Caucasus: The first archaeometric investigation on rock art and pigment residues from Georgia

This research is the first archaeometric investigation of Damirgaya and Trialeti painted rock art and pigments from grinding tools from the Neolithic settlement of Khramis Didi Gora, in South Caucasus, Georgia. The aims of this research are to characterise the rocks and pigments including identification of organic binder, as well as investigate the compatibility of inorganic pigments with locally available supplies and methods of production. Stylistic similarities and influences are compared with adjacent archaeological sites from Armenia and Azerbaijan, where traces of monochromatic red pigment were recovered in settlements, barrows and artefacts. Optical microscopy (OM) on loose samples and thin sections, X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) were used to determine the mineralogical and chemical composition of the samples. Employing micro-Fourier-transform infrared (μ-FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy, compounds were further characterized in both rock paintings and grinding tools. It was not possible to identify or ascertain the presence of binders, either because of their low concentration or complete molecular breakdown deterioration. From the pigment residues on both the rock art and grinding tools, hematite was the main colouring agent, with different associated minerals. For the rock samples, it was found that the rock art at Trialeti is on a dacite, whereas the one from Damirgaya is on a rock composed of quartz, with traces of iron oxides and phyllosilicates, suggesting that the rock originated from hydrothermal activity. The research presented here is the first chemical and mineralogical characterization of pigment residues and rock art from South Caucasian prehistory

d13C values in archaeological 14C-AMS dated charcoals: assessing mid-Holocene climate fluctuations and human response from a high-resolution isotope record (Arslantepe, Turkey)

RATIONALE: Past climate has always influenced human adaptation to the environment. In order to reconstruct palaeoclimate fluctuations and their role in the evolution of Near Eastern societies during the mid-Holocene, high-resolution Δ13C records from fossil wood remains at the archaeological site of Arslantepe (eastern Turkey) have been developed. METHODS: After chemical treatment, 13C values were measured by sample combustion flow using a FLASH EA-CHNS instrument interfaced with a Delta V isotope ratio mass spectrometer via a CONFLO III. Two replicates per sample were analysed. The measurement precision was evaluated by propagating variations of the 13C values of samples and V-PDB standards, whereas the accuracy was checked by a quality control sample. To account for changes in atmospheric CO2, Δ13C values were calculated. In addition, 14C/12C ratios were measured by means of ann AMS system (3 MV tandem accelerator). RESULTS: Mean Δ13C curves of deciduous Quercus and Juniperus from archaeological levels between 4700 and 2000 BC (Arslantepe periods VIII-VI D) were produced, where the isotope values were ordered by the available RC ages. Interspecific variations of evergreen vs deciduous plants were postulated for the juniper Δ13C values being higher than 3‰. The seasonal rainfall amount was recorded by the juniper remains, while the water table levels were obtained from the oak samples. CONCLUSIONS: The local climate experienced times of enhanced/reduced precipitation in concert with regional trends. Anomalies in the air mass circulation from the Mediterranean basin also produced oscillations of rainfall amount. In such a frame the Rapid Climate Change dry events had a consistent signature in the Arslantepe Δ13C record, thus potentially contributing to social or organisational changes at the site

Anatolia: Arslantepe, alle Origini del Potere.

Mostra sugli scavi archeologici presso il sito di Arslantepe, Turchia. I materiali archeologici esposti provenivano tutti dal museo di archeologia della città di Malatya, Turchia. Il catalogo della mostra è stato pubblicato da Electa

Zeytinli Bahçe. A Medieval Fortified Settlement

Alvaro Corrado, Balossi Francesca, Vroom Joanita. Zeytinli Bahçe. A Medieval fortified settlement. In: Anatolia Antiqua, Tome 12, 2004. pp. 191-213

Open day di archeologia di Roma

L'evento si è proposto come un primo incontro tra studenti e ditte di settore, per contribuire a rendere più fluido il passaggio dalla dimensione formativa a quella professionale. E' la prima volta che in Italia si tenta un esperimento del genere, quest'anno rivolto solo alle aziende con sede nel Lazio. Durante la giornata, le ditte di settore hanno allestito stand all'interno del Museo dell'Arte Classica, ed hanno inoltre effettuato brevi presentazioni powerpoint delle proprie attività. L'evento è stato sponsorizzato da Leica Geosystems