Multi‐analytical Studies of the Lime Mortars from the Yanxi Hall in the Yangxin Palace of the Palace Museum (Beijing)

For centuries, the architecture of the Palace Museum represented the highest standard of Chinese architecture. The Yangxin Palace of the Palace Museum consisted of 18 masonry buildings built using bricks, wood, roof tiles and various mortars. In 2016, a five‐year project was initiated to work on the maintenance and restoration of the Yangxin Palace buildings. The characterization of the construction materials has become of primary importance, in order to obtain information about the raw ingredients and building technology of the mortars, and the history of possible previous restorations. In this paper, 12 different samples representing three types of mortar‐based materials—namely, jointing mortars between the bricks on the wall, and surface plasters as well as mortars used on the roof—were collected for analysis from the Yanxi Hall of the Yangxin Palace. Analysis into the composition, grain‐size distribution, organic and fibre additives and testing of the mortar density and water absorption were performed. Starch, protein and plant fibres were identified in some of the samples. Brucite, mullite and ettringite were detected within most mortars on the roof, possibly originating from the furnace slag added into the raw materials for restoration purposes. The analytical results will serve as a critical reference for the maintenance and restoration of the buildings in the Yangxin Palace.     

Iron Age hydraulic plaster from Tell es-Safi/Gath,Israel

Hydraulic plasters or mortars prior to the Roman period are rare. Here, we report the identification and characterization of 3000 year old (Iron Age) hydraulic plaster surfaces from the site of Tell es-Safi/Gath. This site, located in central Israel, was occupied almost continuously from prehistoric through modern times, and is identified as the Canaanite and Philistine city of Gath. A survey using an on-site Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) identified the presence of amorphous silicates, in addition to calcite, in each of two superimposed plaster layers. This suite of minerals is characteristic of hydraulic plaster. An in-depth characterization of the plasters using FTIR, acid dissolution, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray powder diffractometry (pXRD), heating experiments and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS), shows that special silicate-containing minerals were brought from some distance to the site in order to produce these plaster surfaces. We therefore conclude that the plasters were deliberately produced, and were not the result of a fortuitous addition of local silicate minerals. A layer of around 150 μm thick enriched in carbonate hydroxylapatite was found in both plaster surfaces, and the same mineral was identified by infrared spectrometry in the surrounding sediments. This suggests that organic materials were used on these surfaces. These surfaces are among the oldest hydraulic plasters known.     

湖北武当山遇真宫西宫建筑基址发掘简报

武当山遇真宫是南水北调中线工程文物保护工作中唯一涉及的世界文化遗产。为全面掌握遇真宫整体布局及历史信息,提供遇真宫文物保护方案的科学依据,2005年12月至2006年3月,湖北省文物考古研究所对遇真宫西宫建筑基址进行了考古发掘,整体揭露面积约9600平方米,比较完整地揭示出遇真宫西宫的建筑布局与结构特点。     

Plasters from Different Buildings of the Sacred Precinct of Tenochtitlan (Mexico City): Characterization And Provenance

In this work, we present the results of the characterization of 20 lime plaster samples taken from the Sacred Precinct of Tenochtitlan (Mexico City), the ancient capital of the Aztec empire. The samples come from different buildings of this precinct (A, B and D) and from the west façade of phase VI of the Templo Mayor pyramid. The objective of the work is to characterize the plaster samples, to understand the raw materials used, and to evaluate the presence of similarities and differences among the samples in the building techniques and raw materials employed. All the samples were studied with OM, SEM–EDS and LA–ICP–MS. The study provided evidence of the plastering and replastering practice in the same constructive phases. The results of the analyses showed the existence of important similarities and differences among buildings and constructive phases in the Sacred Precinct. In order to understand the provenance of the limestone used in the plasters, the lumps and the binder of the samples were analysed. The results were compared with those of the limestone outcrops located in central Mexico. The provenance study showed that all the limestone used in the construction of the analysed buildings of Tenochtitlan's Sacred Precinct comes from the Tula region.     

陕西旬邑西头遗址出土彩绘白灰面的成分和工艺分析

对陕西旬邑县西头遗址出土的彩绘白灰面进行了成分和制作工艺分析。采用偏光显微分析、扫描电镜能谱、X射线衍射,拉曼光谱分析了该彩绘面的颜料和石灰层成分,采用气相色谱-质谱联用技术(GC-MS)分析了该彩绘面的胶料成分。结果表明,该彩绘面的颜料由铁红,铁黄和绿土构成。白灰层由碳酸钙构成,部分样品中存在双层白灰层。GC-MS分析表明,该彩绘面的胶料含动物胶,可能还含蛋类。通过比较研究发现,旬邑彩绘白灰面的制作工艺和与后期壁画制作工艺相似,对其组成和工艺的研究将有助于探索先周时期关中地区壁画的起源和发展。     

CHARACTERIZATION AND PROVENANCE OF LIME PLASTERS FROM THE TEMPLO MAYOR OF TENOCHTITLAN (MEXICO CITY)

In this work, we present the results of the analyses of 20 lime plaster samples taken from the Templo Mayor (Great Temple), the main pyramid of Tenochtitlan (Mexico), the ancient capital of the Mexicas. The samples were analysed to recover information on the mixtures used in the fabrication of the plasters and for the provenance of the raw materials (in particular, limestone) used to make the plasters. The characterization of the samples was done by OM, SEM/EDS, XRF and LA–ICP–MS analyses, while the identification of the provenance of raw materials was done by studying the lumps present in the samples with LA–ICP–MS. The objective of the study was to establish if there was a relationship between changes in the construction techniques employed in the pyramid over time and if there were changes in the provenance of the raw materials. Six different construction phases of this pyramid are analysed, showing the similarities and differences among them, mainly based on differences in the sieving of the aggregates and in the raw materials employed. The provenance studies of the limestone used to make the plasters demonstrated that all the limestone comes from the Tula region.     

古建油饰彩画的制作技术分析研究

为了对中国特有的古建油饰彩画制作技术加深了解,促进古建油饰彩画传统工艺科学化,采用X射线衍射仪、X射线荧光光谱仪、扫描电镜、体视显微镜等仪器对采自蒙古博格达汗宫博物馆、北京颐和园、甘肃嘉峪关、山西太符观等古代建筑的油饰彩画样品的制作技术进行了分析研究。结果表明,测试的样品分别采用了一麻五灰、一布四灰、单披灰等多种工艺制作地仗;麻纤维广泛应用于样品纤维层中,仅样品YHY-22使用了棉布;颐和园和博格达汉宫博物馆的样品以砖灰作为地仗无机填料,嘉峪关样品使用了白土粉,而山西古建样品则可能使用当地的土壤。可以得出结论:几个地区古建油饰彩画的制作材料和技术是有所不同的。     

永乐宫壁画制作材料及工艺的初步调查分析

永乐宫原位于山西省芮城县永乐镇,建于1247—1368年,是为纪念吕洞宾而修建的。其壁画绘制700多年来,历经多次自然灾害和修缮,还经历了20世纪60年代的整体搬迁,目前壁画已出现常见的颜料层起甲、脱落、粉化等病害,还存在拼接缝开裂起翘,表层画面受污染变色的状况。由于早期切割、搬迁和修复的大量介入,现存壁画表面及内部结构都发生了巨大的变化。永乐宫在搬迁过程中保存下来的少量壁画残块,一定程度上代表了永乐宫壁画的原始状态,是研究早期壁画材料和工艺信息的重要的和极有价值的样本。对此,针对取自永乐宫的11块壁画残块的微量样品,通过光学显微镜(OM)、剖面分析(cross-section analysis)、X射线衍射(XRD)和扫描电镜-能谱(SEM-EDS)等多种分析手段,对其制作材料和工艺进行初步调查分析,并取得了其相关壁画地仗、颜料材质及绘制壁画层位的信息,为永乐宫壁画的科学保护和深入研究提供了重要的基础资料。     

中国明代木质古建西安鼓楼彩绘的分析研究

鉴于有关中国木质古建彩绘材料及技术的研究报道较少,本工作通过光学显微镜、扫描电镜能谱(SEMEDX)、X射线衍射及气相色谱质谱(GC/MS)分析方法,对建于公元1380年的中国西安明代鼓楼木建表面彩绘样品进行了科学检测研究,分析了其中的无机材料组成及彩绘所用粘合剂,并收集了所涉及到的相关历史资料。分析结果表明,木建表面彩绘的材料组成和制作技术与历史调查获得的信息完全吻合。地仗层主要由粘土、石灰、干性油(桐油)及纤维织物组成,且地仗层保持最初的原材料。颜料分析结果显示,尽管修复时所使用的粘合剂与最初建造时的粘合剂完全相同,但目前彩绘的颜料即有原来使用的材料,也有十八世纪修复时所使用的材料。     

Identifying a technological style in the making of lime plasters at Teopancazco (Teotihuacan,México)

The aim of this article is to focus on the technology of archeological plasters at Teotihuacan (Central Mexico), from the Classic Period (200–650 A.D.), focusing in the study of Teopancazco, a neighborhood center in the city. Petrographic and chemical analyses by OM, SEM-EDS, and LA-ICP-MS were conducted to characterize samples from different constructive phases and sectors of the neighborhood center, to determine the provenance of the raw materials employed in the manufacturing (e.g., volcanic glass shards) and to assess whether a shift occurred in the manufacturing of plasters and in the procurement strategies of raw materials during the different phases. The results of the analyses show that almost no changes occurred in the making of the plaster during more than four centuries and allow us to consider the presence of a technological style in their manufacture, which is characterized by the making of plaster by mixing lime with volcanic glass shards, which in the case of Teopancazco were derived from the Altotonga (Veracruz) magmatic system. The data at our disposal suggest that this style was developed in Teopancazco and later introduced throughout the city of Teotihuacan in the Early Xolalpan phase (A.D. 350), although we still do not know whether the provenance of the raw materials is the same. The wide distribution of this technological tradition could be due to the technological properties of the materials and/or the influence of the intermediate elite who ruled over Teopancazco. The paper confirms that the study of material culture and technology sheds light on broader cultural aspects of ancient societies.     

汶川地震导致的壁画文物震害研究——以广元市觉苑寺大雄宝殿壁画为例

为保护壁画文物,以四川省广元市剑阁县大雄宝殿为例,对汶川地震作用下殿内壁画的震害进行了研究.根据震后勘查结果,讨论了大雄宝殿壁画的典型震害症状,分析了古建筑侧脚构造对壁画抗震的有利影响.根据大雄宝殿壁画加固工艺作法及古建筑榫卯连接特点,建立了大雄宗殿的震前有限元模型.为研究汶川地震作用下壁画的震害特征,首先对其进行了模态分析,然后将模拟汶川地震波进行调幅,然后作用于大雄宝殿进行地震反应分析.通过采用时程分析法,获得了地震作用下不同时刻壁画整体的内力与变形响应峰值,并获得了典型节点的地震响应曲线.结果表明:大雄宝殿壁画开裂与空鼓的主要原因是面层与墙体粘结不牢导致的受拉破坏;地震作用下壁画保持稳定的振动状态;为提高壁画的抗震性能,壁画木框与外墙板间应加强连接,并在空隙处填塞隔震材料,同时应加强壁画本身保养工作.     

The devolution of mudbrick: ethnoarchaeology of abandoned earthen dwellings in the Bolivian Andes

This ethno-geoarchaeological study considers the formation of archaeological deposits through a study of abandoned contemporary mudbrick structures on the Taraco Peninsula, Bolivia. The study site was a domestic compound with rooms for different functions that had been abandoned for over 50 years. Structures were in variable states of decay in terms of roof cover, walling integrity and abandonment fills. Geoarchaeological samples were collected from intact and weathered adobes, earthen hearths, mud plaster, and flooring. Adobes and mud plaster were locally derived from topsoil containing archaeological sediments with added gravel and plant temper. This study found a relatively light anthropogenic signature for decayed earthen houses.Rising damp exfoliated mud plaster despite un-mortared cobble wall foundations. Organic matter from roof fall attracted thriving soil faunal populations, which furthered site destruction through bioturbation, particularly packed earth floors. Sediments derived from weathered mudbrick retained little evidence of prior use as construction materials unless exposed to heat. Sediments exposed to high-temperatures produced the most distinctive rubified features but were structurally compromised. Isolated thermal features from decomposed adobe would not be distinguishable from other hearth types. Adobes exposed to low or moderate heat had few distinctive features in thin section. Intact adobes and floors that were not exposed to heat have fewer pores than natural sediments and distinctive grass inclusions. These adobes disarticulated into loose sediments when exposed to weathering. Adobe fall outside the crumbling structures blended into topsoil.This study sheds light on functional attributes of pre-Columbian construction practices. Thick, fine-textured sterile flooring is commonly encountered in the study region. This would control bioturbation from roof fall in a previous occupation enabling reconstruction in abandoned dwellings. In contrast to the contemporary dwelling, prehistoric mortared cobble foundations would resist rising damp. Cobbles without mortar may relate more to design and construction than durability. These contrasts between contemporary and prehistory construction practices reflect differences in the design, construction costs and functional use-life of adobe structures.     

CHARACTERIZATION OF PLASTERS FROM PTOLEMAIC BATHS: NEW EXCAVATIONS NEAR THE KARNAK TEMPLE COMPLEX,UPPER EGYPT*

The aim of the present work is to characterize plasters from Ptolemaic baths recently discovered in front of the Karnak temple complex, by the excavations of an Egyptian–French team. The characterization was carried out by means of optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with an energy‐dispersive X‐ray detector (EDS), X‐ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT–IR). The results allowed the identification of the chemical composition and structure of these plasters. In addition, samples of red, yellow, black and white pigments were examined and identified. The results helped in providing an image concerning some materials used during the Ptolemaic era in ancient Egypt.     

Pigments and Plasters Discovered in the House of Diana (Cosa,Grosseto, Italy): An Integrated Study Between Art History,Archaeology and Scientific Analyses*

The pigments and the plasters of the Roman frescoes discovered at the House of Diana (Cosa, Grosseto, Italy) were analysed using non‐destructive and destructive mineralogical and chemical techniques. The characterization of both pigments and plasters was performed through optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and electron microprobe analysis. The pigments were identified by Raman spectroscopy and submitted to stable isotope analysis. The results were integrated with the archaeological data in order to determine and reconstruct the provenance, trade patterns and the employment of the raw materials used for the elaboration of the frescoes.     

Let no space go to waste: comparing the uses of space between two Late Classic centers in the El Paraíso valley,Copan, Honduras

Phosphorus analysis of earthen and plaster floors has been used in Mesoamerica to locate and identify activities at ancient sites. This study uses phosphorus analysis to discern if the inhabitants of two Late Classic coeval and proximal sites located in the El Paraíso Valley of Honduras were different culturally from each other. The buried earthen and plaster surfaces of both sites were systematically sampled and analyzed for phosphorus remains. The patterns of elevated phosphorus from these open spaces were subsequently compared to determine if differences in the habitual use and treatment of open spaces could be discerned. These differences are evaluated as a function of behavioral norms, functional responses, and cultural dispositions in order to evaluate the extent to which these two populations were indeed different from each other.     

Characterization of lime carbonates in plasters from Teotihuacan,Mexico: preliminary results of cathodoluminescence and carbon isotope analyses

This study characterizes the degree of calcination of lime in lime plaster samples from Teotihuacan, the capital of a regional state in prehispanic Central Mexico. Lime plaster production consists of multiple steps, from the firing of raw materials to the mixing of lime and aggregate and the final application. While previous studies have focused on the compositional variability, specifically the recipe of lime plasters and mortars, the characterization of lime itself has not been sufficiently addressed. In this study, cathodoluminescence analysis coupled with petrographic and image analyses were employed to examine the degree of calcination of lime. The results of cathodoluminescence petrography were further examined through stable carbon isotope and ¹⁴C measurements. It appeared that the results of cathodoluminescence analysis are consistent with those of other analytical methods and that there are diachronic changes in the degree of calcination of lime among lime plaster samples. This implies changes in the organization of lime production, specifically the consistency in the control of firing temperature.     

Characterization of archaeological lime mortars in a Ming dynasty tomb: A multi-analytical approach

Lime mortars have played an important role in constructing ancient Chinese masonry structures, including city walls, buildings, and tombs. A tomb built with lime mortars and stones belonging a Ming high-ranking official, Xu Jie, was discovered in Huzhou City of China. Eight different samples from Xu Jie’s tomb, representing four types of lime-mortar-based materials: joint mortar between stone bricks, bedding mortar, grouting mortar, and plaster mortars were collected for analysis and comparison. The characterization of the construction materials has therefore become of primary importance. The function of each mortar was reported and studies into the micro-textural features and mineralogical compositions of those mortars were performed via a multi-analytical approach. The joint mortars were all found to be aerial lime mortars with predominately lime. The bedding mortar was found to consist of lime, soil and sand, typical of a tabia mortar. The grouting mortar was found to consist of lime and ground contact metamorphosed limestone. Analysis of plaster sample taken from the roof of the main tomb identified the presence of calcium stearate/palmitate, indicating the usage of plant-based tung oil as an additive. The analytical results will promote our understanding of Ming architectural technology and craftsmanship, and provide critical information for the conservation of Xu Jie’s tomb.     

静怡轩的建筑渊源及其复原设计

静怡轩是紫禁城建福宫花园中一座建于乾隆七年(1742年)的建筑,1923年毁于火。作者通过对大量文献、实物资料的研究,结合对建筑基址的考察,阐述了静怡轩的渊源和发展,认为静怡轩仿建于圆明园西峰秀色的含韵斋,圆明园西峰秀色又仿自杭州西峰秀色,而故宫宁寿全宫现存的景福宫则仿自静怡轩。景福宫因此成为今日复原静怡轩的实物依据。综合对景福宫建筑和静怡轩基址中台基、踏跺、柱础的考察,作者认为静怡轩应是一座面阔五间,周围廊,三卷棚勾连搭歇山式屋顶,绿琉璃瓦黄剪边,斗升云交麻叶斗,苏式彩画的建筑。