Program on Ancient Technologies and Archaeological Materials at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ATAM is a Division of the Illinois Transportation Archaeological Research Program

ASSYRIAN PIGMENTS

Traces of paint on gypsum relief panels from the 8th century BC site of Khorsabad in ancient Assyria raise questions about how these colors or blue, red, white, and black were created. Nine samples of such pigments from the Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, were analyzed to compare with similar studies of Assyrian pigments being conducted at the Louvre Museum Laboratory in Paris. X-ray diffraction results from samples #1 and #3 have identified the mineral cuprorivaite (CaCuSi₄O₁₀), called "Egyptian Blue"--the same mineral pigment found in frescoes from Persepolis. In contrast, sample #7 displays a different blue compound with lower silica, higher calcium, and higher sulphur content. Similarly, the black pigment in sample #2 is quite different in copper content.

Ultimately, comparison of our pigment compositions with those identified by the Louvre team may clarify the chronology of fresco painting in ancient Assyria and the source(s) of pigment materials at Khorsabad.

Copyright 1999. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.