Enriching the knowledge of Ostia Antica painted fragments: a multi-methodological approach

This paper presents the study of selected painted fragments from different contexts of Ostia Antica city, dating between 2nd century BCE and the end of the 1st century CE. The aim is to identify the raw materials used and to understand the execution techniques through a non-invasive protocol including techniques based either on multiband imaging (Visible-VIS, Ultraviolet induced Luminescence - UVL and Visible Induced Luminescence - VIL) and single spot analyses (Fiber Optic Reflectance Spectroscopy-FORS and portable X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometry - XRF). The most representative and interesting fragments were sampled for further studies with laboratory techniques such as optical microscopy (OM) and electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared and micro-Raman Spectroscopies (FT-IR and mu Raman). The extensive use of non-invasive techniques, even working on fragments, is proved to be the most robust and effective approach enabling the analysis of a high number of areas, dramatically increasing the statistical meaning of the collected data. The elaboration of such a huge number of data allows highlighting differences and similarities, thus achieving a more realistic overview of the materials composition and addressing the sampling to the more significant and complex areas. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study analyzed painted fragments from different contexts of Ostia Antica city using non-invasive techniques to identify raw materials and understand execution techniques. Laboratory techniques were then used to further study representative fragments. The results showed that non-invasive techniques were effective in increasing the statistical significance of the data and providing a more realistic overview of material composition.