Dh2015 Gravitate-presentation

The Salamis Terracotta Statues
a multidisciplinary approach
DH Congress
Granada
Sorin Hermon
Vera Moitinho de Almeida
2nd October 2015

Copyright STARC-CYI and other members of the GRAVITATE consortium 2015
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Ayia Irina, Cyprus
More than 2000 sculptures
(c. 8th - 7th BC)

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Salamis (7th c. BC), Cyprus
site Toumba

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Finds from Salamis – site Toumba

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 Archaeological
 Classification
 Chaîne operatoire
 Social recontextualization
 Technological
 Re-Assemble, Re-Unify and Re-Associate the fragments
 Integrate semantic, digital and analytical approaches
 Related outcomes
 Virtual repatriation, Virtual museums, Open access,
Integration in EU research infrastructures...
Aims

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Karageorghis, V. (1993). The Coroplastic Art of Ancient Cyprus. III. The Cypro-
Archaic Period Large and Medium Size Sculpture. A.G. Leventis Foundation.

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Interdisciplinary non-invasive data acquisition and analysis
Method & Techniques
(Clay & Pigments)
Re-Assemblage
Re-Unification
Re-Association

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Digital MicroscopyUV imaging
X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF)VIS-Reflectance Spectroscopy
3D Scanning + Photography
Interdisciplinary non-invasive data acquisition and analysis
Method & Techniques

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3D Digital Models

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3D Digital Models

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3D Digital Models

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3D Digital Models

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Visually finding similarities (example A)
3D Digital Models

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ID 1909 0310 127, British Museum (BM) ID C2267, Cyprus Museum (CyM1)
ID C2600, Cyprus Museum (CyM2)
Finding similarities (example B)
3D Digital Models

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BM – CyM2 BM – CyM1CyM1 – CyM2
Finding similarities (example B)
3D Digital Models

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Incision layer overlapping the main body layer
C2412, front side
Manufacturing details
Micro Analysis: Digital Microscopy

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Vertical micro cracks
Superimposition of incisions
C2412, front side

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Horizontal parallel marks
C2412, back side
Compression marks

Main body clay layer
Incision clay layer
horizontal incisions
short oblique incisions
vertical incisions
oblique incisions
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Visual analysis and
characterization:
• Colour
• Clay matrix
• Shape and density
of inclusions, etc.
250 μm
250 μm
Manufacturing details: Clays
Macro/Micro Analysis: Digital Microscopy

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Manufacturing details: Clays
Group I Group II
Unsorted Group I
grey or brown-grey inclusions and
few smaller red inclusions.
Group I
red or brownish-red inclusions and
few smaller grey inclusions.
Unsorted
C1070: small red, black and white inclusions.
C2404: few red and black inclusions.
C2246: presence of foraminiferas (marine
microfossils)

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Surface layer of the
statue (clay slip)
Main body of
the statue
Manufacturing details: Prep/Painting Layers
Clay
Slip
Paint

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Manufacturing details: Preparation Layer
3 Types of surface were detected:
 White slip as a separate layer
Higher Ca content => calcareous clay
(C2255, 2235, 2246, C2404)
 White surface layer as fired clay body
The same elemental composition, different
colour, gradual transition between layers. No slip?
(C2378, C114, C115, C2224, C2167)
 No significant difference in colour between
surface and clay. No slip?
(D292, C113, C2412)
Clay
Slip

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Yellowish UV fluorescence could be related to the
presence of fatty acids, constituents of oil binders
(detected on C1070, C115, C114(?), C2378(?)).
Detection of contaminated and restored areas in
order to exclude them from further analysis.
Visible
light
Ultraviolet
light
Manufacturing details: Painting
VIS – UV Imaging

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Manufacturing details: Painting & Pigments
Chemical/Elemental Analysis
Clay slip, preparation layer?
Iron red
(hematite, red ochre)?
Manganese, Iron, Carbon
black?
X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF)
VIS-reflectance spectroscopy
Qualitative and
quantitative
analyses of
elements
major - Si, Al
minor - Fe, Ca, K, Ti
trace - Rb, Sr, Zr, etc.

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A new colour, previously unknown –
Yellow – has been identified on the
earrings’ decoration.
Digital Microscopy + XRF

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Chemical/Elemental Analysis
 Unfired decoration (paint applied after firing).
 Polychromy – red, yellow, black, white colours.
 Paint applied either directly on clay or on preparation layer, slip .
 One type of Red – Iron Red. Traces of Lead might serve for further pigment
provenance study. Not possible to conclude on hematite or red ochre.
 One type of Black – Manganese Black.
 Yellow – Iron Yellow (Goethite, Yellow Ochre, Jarosite) possibly mixed with Arsenic
Yellow (orpiment). Applied on earrings of two objects (C113 and C114).
 Pink – mixture of Iron Red and white clay for flesh colours (cheeks, legs, feet, hand).
 White – slip, calcareous clay (Kaolinite?).

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 Some 200 fragments have been 3D scanned and photographed.
Available for geometric and imaging analysis.
Archived in a digital repository.
 Detailed geometric and chemical/elemental analysis has started on
the Cyprus Museum fragments.
It is expected to expand such analyses on the remaining items.
 A rich characterisation of each fragment (manufacturing techniques)
is currently under investigation.
 Visual matching between fragments is currently performed.
 Further bibliographical and archival research - ongoing.
Summary & Ongoing Work

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Set of software tools
based on Semantic and Geometric data matching,
that will help
Archaeologists & Museum Curators
to digitally Re-Assemble, Re-Unify and Re-Associate
fragments of CH objects.
STARC-CyI’s Expectations
GRAVITATE Project

Dh2015 Gravitate-presentation

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