Colorful Indications of (Ex)Change.

Project Information

BUNT

Grant agreement ID: 845075

DOI

10.3030/845075

Project closed

EC signature date 12 April 2019

Start date 1 September 2020

End date 31 August 2022

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 186 167,04

EU contribution

€ 186 167,04

Coordinated by

OESTERREICHISCHE AKADEMIE DER WISSENSCHAFTEN
Austria

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - BUNT (Colorful Indications of (Ex)Change.)

Reporting period: 2020-09-01 to 2022-08-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Like the present, the ancient world was fascinated by color too. People manipulated natural materials to use them as colorants early on. The understanding of our colorful past is part of scholarly discussions and becoming accepted among a wider audience. This is supported by advances in analytical methods capable of characterizing traces of colorants from archaeological contexts.

Recent scientific advances aim at provenancing the raw materials used for ancient pigments. This is highly relevant, because it can elucidate not only the origin and exploitation of resources, connecting various places through trade, but potentially also production processes and the transfer of technological skills and know-how as well as the organization of pigment production in the human past.

With a focus on the provenance of resources for and production technology of red (cinnabar) and blue pigments (Egyptian blue) – both pigments were spatially and temporally widely used in the Roman world – this project investigated the economic and cultural relevance of color in the human past. Through a multi-analytical approach, this project tested the potential of ancient pigments as subtle, but powerful indicators of trade, exchange of technology and cultural transfer between Italy and the peripheral province of Noricum after it became part of the Roman empire.

To conclude, pigment provenance analysis underlines that strong ties existed between Italy and Noricum: the latter was likely supplied by pigments produced in Italy, while the former also used raw materials available in the Southern Alps.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The performed work included fieldwork at relevant sites, in-situ analyses using a portable XRF instrument, mineralogical and petrographic analyses using, for example, microscopy, XRPD and SEM-EDS, element analysis by ICP-MS and isotope analysis by TIMS and MC-ICP-MS. The mineralogical, petrographic, elemental and isotope results are integrated in an assessment of processing technique and raw material provenance.

The mineralogical, petrographic and elemental results indicate consistent paint layer preparation as well as a similar raw material source. As part of the provenance evaluation, rare earth element analysis was included, which has shown great potential for refining the provenance evaluation between different periods and contexts to complement the isotope-based provenance evaluation.

The results for cinnabar currently indicated a more frequent use of this mineral pigment during the first century AD in Roman Noricum and the results for Egyptian blue show a slight difference in raw material provenance between a first (ca. 1st c. AD) and later phases (ca. 2nd to 3rd c. AD) of wall paintings. Several manuscripts are currently being prepared for international peer-reviewed journals. These manuscripts discuss pigment provenance, production, trade and application to wall paintings in Noricum.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The new results of this project suggest strong ties between Italy and Noricum after it became part of the Roman empire. For example, copper for producing Egyptian blue might have been sourced in the Southern Alps, processed in central Italy and then traded to Noricum. This suggests well-organized and perhaps centralized efforts in pigment trade and production.

The advances in the scientific characterization of ancient pigments are a promising approach for elucidating provenance and production processes in the human past. This has great potential for indicating organization of production, cultural and technological exchange and transfer of knowledge. Not only is this understanding of the motivations of past exchange and interaction historically relevant but may very well help us understand the origins of contemporary patterns of cultural and economic exchange.

Wall painting fragment with Egyptian blue from Noricum