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Abstract

This paper presents the results of an archaeometric study of the pigments and painting techniques used to produce the polychrome synopia found under the tesserae of the Romanperiod mosaic at Lod. The red, yellow, green and black paints preserved on the sovranucleus of the mortar preparation layer beneath the mosaic were analyzed by polarized light microscopy on disperse pigments (PLM), reflected light microscopy (RLM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray powder diffraction. 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 top of the mortars, indicating that the pigments were laid on fresh mortar, in accordance with the fresco technique.

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