Spectroscopic analyses of Hellenistic painted plasters from 2nd century B. C., Sicily (South Italy)

In the present work, an analytical characterization of painted plaster samples coming from ancientbuildings dated back to 2nd cent. B.C., located in Licata (Sicily, Southern Italy), has been carried out.The investigation has been performed through different spectroscopic techniques: X-ray fluorescence(XRF) using an handheld energy-dispersive XRF analyzer, scanning electron microscopy equipped withan Energy Dispersive Spectrometry microanalysis detector (SEM-EDS) and Fourier transform infraredabsorbance spectroscopy (FT-IR). The main goal is to identify the plaster and pigments material. In particular,the XRF investigation of surfaces is the first step for a preliminary elemental characterization.Then, through SEM-EDS measurements, a quantitative analysis of the chemical composition of the plasterand the pigmenting agents along with eventual components related to deterioration processes has beenobtained. Finally, FT-IR absorbance spectra have proven to be a useful tool to investigate the molecularnature of the used materials.