A multi-analytical survey for the identification of the red and yellow pigments of coloured sherds discovered in the Monte d’Oro area (Rome)

The aim of the study was the characterisation of the pigments utilised on the painted sherds found during an excavation performed by the Soprintendenza Archeologica and just approximately assigned to a historical period between the first century B.C. and the first century A.D. The analytical survey here presented meant to provide archaeologists with useful information on the painting materials to better contextualise the findings from an artistic and historical point of view. The investigation procedure comprehended the use of SEM-EDX technique and Raman, infrared and visible reflectance spectroscopies, paying most attention to portable instrumentation diagnostic performances. The study carried out on a selection of the red, and yellow sherds highlighted the presence of cinnabar, litharge, red and yellow ochre also blended among themselves or possibly utilised overlapping more painting layers. Furthermore, it is to notice the presence of gold decorations on some fragments that denotes certain care for details and opulence in the adornment.