FIRST FINDINGS OF RAMAN MICROSCOPY CONDUCTED ON EARLY CHRISTIAN MURALS IN EGYPT

This short report presents the first findings obtained through the application of Raman microscopy to analyse early Christian murals in Egypt. The samples were studied by a micro-Raman instrument, while the scanning electron microscope (ESEM-EDX) was applied to allow the accessing to the chemical composition of the samples. The identified pigments were red ochre (with different hues), yellow ochre and carbon black (from vegetable origin). A high quantity of TiO2 anatase polymorph was detected in the red pigment samples. The analyses showed that calcium carbonate (calcite) was used to build up the underlying layers. Further analyses on multi-chromatic layers are in progress.