[Aztlan] A SPECTROSCOPIC INVESTIGATION OF PIGMENT AND CERAMIC SAMPLES FROM COPÁN, HONDURAS

[Mario Cabrejos]

Archaeometry
Volume 51 Issue 1, Pages 95 - 109
Published Online: 6 Mar 2008
DOI 10.1111/j.1475-4754.2007.00382.x 

A SPECTROSCOPIC INVESTIGATION OF PIGMENT AND CERAMIC SAMPLES FROM COPÁN, HONDURAS
R. A. GOODALL 1 rgoodall at internode.on.net, J. HALL 2 , R. VIEL 3 and P. M. FREDERICKS 1 
  1 School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia 
  2 Archaeology Program, School of Social Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia 
  3 Copán Formative Project, Copán Ruinas, Honduras 
  

ABSTRACT
A combination of micro-Raman spectroscopy, micro-infrared spectroscopy and SEM-EDX was employed to characterize decorative pigments on Classic Maya ceramics from Copán, Honduras. Variation in red paint mixtures was correlated with changing ceramic types and improvements in process and firing techniques. We have confirmed the use of specular hematite on Coner ceramics by the difference in intensities of Raman bands. Different compositions of brown paint were correlated with imported and local wares. The carbon-iron composition of the ceramic type, Surlo Brown, was confirmed. By combining micro-Raman analysis with micro-ATR infrared and SEM-EDX, we have achieved a more comprehensive characterization of the paint mixtures. These spectroscopic techniques can be used non-destructively on raw samples as a rapid confirmation of ceramic type.