A technological analysis of Mycenaean wall-paintings from Iklaina, Peloponnese

Abstract

This study is about the examination of Mycenaean wall painting fragments from Iklaina in the vicinity of Pylos. It aims to provide an analysis of the mortars, check the chemical composition of the pigments and their layers. For this purpose analytical techniques were employed. The samples were examined in a LED microscope, in a micro X-ray fluorescence spectrometer and in a scanning electron microscope paired with an energy dispersive spectrometer. The results were analised qualitatively and quantitatively as necessary, by analysing spectra, calculating mean values and the standard deviation and creating biplots.

In the following chapters are presented some archaeological information about the site where the samples come from, a presentation of the instrumentation used and its limitations, followed by chapters on the mortars and the pigments. The final chapter deals with what has been found, what remains inconclusive, and how can the research be extended by satisfyingly answering these questions.