DISCOVERY AND CHARACTERIZATION OF AN UNKNOWN BLUE‐GREEN MAYA PIGMENT: VESZELYITE* |
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Authors: | R GARCIA MORENO F MATHIS V MAZEL M DUBUS T CALLIGARO D STRIVAY |
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Institution: | 1. Centre Européen d’Archéométrie de l’Université de Liège (CEA‐ULg), Sart Tilman, Bat. B5, 4000 Liege, Belgium;2. Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Musées de France (C2RMF), Quai Fran?ois Mitterrand, Palais du Louvre, 75001, Paris, France |
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Abstract: | Blue‐green mosaic and polychrome masks and funerary offerings from the royal tombs of Calakmul, Mexico, were analysed by scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (SEM‐EDS), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and particle induced X‐ray emission (PIXE). This led to the first identification of the use of veszelyite, a rare hydrated copper‐zinc phosphate, as green pigment. Analyses of a geological sample of this mineral have been done to confirm the characterization of this Mayan pigment, which might help determine pre‐Columbian trade routes of precious and luxury objects in the ancient Maya Classic period (ad 250–800). |
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Keywords: | MESOAMERICA MAYA SCANNING ELECTRONIC MICROSCOPE ENERGY DISPERSIVE X‐RAY SPECTROSCOPY X‐RAY DIFFRACTION PARTICLE INDUCED X‐RAY EMISSION PIGMENTS VESZELYITE COPPER‐ZINC PHOSPHATE |
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