The Polychrome Sinopia of Roman Mosaic at Lod (Israel): Pigments Characterization and Microstratigraphic Study

Abstract

This paper presents the results of the archaeometric study on the pigments and the painting techniques used to produce the polichrome sinopia found under the tesserae of the Roman mosaic at Lod (Israel). The red, yellow, green and black paints, laying on the sovranucleus of the preparation mortar under the mosaic, were studied by polarised light microscopy on disperse pigments (PLM), reflected light microscopy (RLM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). The palette comprises red and yellow ochre, cinnabar, green earth and carbon black. The microstratigraphic analysis shows the presence of a carbonation layer including the pigment particles on the top of the mortars, indicating that the pigments were laid on a fresh mortar, according to a fresco technique.