Analytical data on marble sculptures’ polychrome traces (Palatine hill, Rome)

Polychromy in ancient statues is raising interest both from an archaeological and archaeometrical point of view. In this study we show analytical data obtained both non-invasively in situ and on micro-fragments in the laboratory. A complementary approach based on portable X-ray fluorescence and vibrational spectroscopies (Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform and Raman spectroscopies) was used for studying polychromy traces of two marble sculptures from excavations on the Palatine hill. This combined approach allowed the characterization of both pigments and organic media, highlighting the use of pigments such as ochres, Egyptian blue, lead-based compounds, malachite, and of gold.