Cinnabar for Roman Ephesus: Material quality, processing and provenance

Rodler-Rørbo, Alexandra ; Baragona, Anthony J. ; Verbeemen, Eliah J. ; Sørensen, Lasse Vilien ; Çakmakoglu, Berk ; Helvaci, Cahit ; Bolea-Fernandez, Eduardo (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Rua-Ibarz, Ana ; Vanhaecke, Frank ; Becker, Hilary ; Artioli, Gilberto ; Zabrana, Lilli ; Debaille, Vinciane ; Mattielli, Nadine ; Goderis, Steven ; Claeys, Philippe

Resumen: Ephesus was an important harbor city that flourished during the Roman period and ancient texts mention Almadén in Spain and the Cilbian fields of Ephesus as important cinnabar sources in antiquity. This work investigates whether imported cinnabar was used and whether this could be related to changes in painting activities over time. Microscopic analysis indicates a consistent preparation of cinnabar, hinting at a uniform source material quality or processing technique. However, the use of cinnabar varies among the architectural structures studied, indicating a plurality of painting techniques. A few of the analyzed cinnabar samples overlap with Turkish- and Balkan reference Pb isotope ratios; three samples from tabernas, however, deviate from this. The Hg isotope ratios reveal that cinnabar from carbonate-hosted deposits was likely used, and that processing of cinnabar included heating as suggested by ancient texts. Most notably, a correlation exists between the geochemical data and the painting technique – shifts in sourcing and cinnabar usage are potentially assignable to building chronology and/or usage. Through the lens of material provenance and processing, Ephesian cinnabar brings the organization of pigment trade into focus.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2024.106122

Año: 2024

Publicado en: JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE 173 (2024), 106122 [16 pp.]
ISSN: 0305-4403

Factor impacto JCR: 2.5 (2024)

Categ. JCR: ANTHROPOLOGY rank: 12 / 141 = 0.085 (2024) - Q1 - T1
Categ. JCR: GEOSCIENCES, MULTIDISCIPLINARY rank: 109 / 258 = 0.422 (2024) - Q2 - T2

Factor impacto CITESCORE: 5.6 - Archeology (Q1) - Archeology (arts and humanities) (Q1)

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 1.242 - Archeology (Q1) - History (Q1) - Archeology (arts and humanities) (Q1)

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/E43-20R
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/H2020/101034288/EU/International Fellowship Programme for Talent Attraction to the Campus of International Excellence Campus Iberus/IberusExperience
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/PID2021-122455NB-I00
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/RYC2021-031093-I

Tipo y forma: Article (PostPrint)

Área (Departamento): Área Química Analítica (Dpto. Química Analítica)