New Technologies in Cypriote Archaeology: A Current

Research Program on Ancient Ceramic Technology

Vassos Karageorghis
Archaeological Research Unit, Univ. of Cyprus, P.O.Box 537, CY1678 Nicosia, Cyprus

Nota Kourou
Department of Archaeology, University of Athens, 15784 Athens, Greece

Eleni Aloupi
THETIS Hellas Ltd, 41 M.Moussourou St., 11636 Athens, Greece, E-mail: thetis@netor.gr

Abstract. The paper presents preliminary results of a close collaboration of

scientists and archaeologists in the framework of a research program that
refers to a large scale systematic study of ancient ceramic technology in
Cyprus from the Late Neolithic to the Classical period, making use of modern
analytical techniques, computer-aided data handling and evaluation software.

1 Introduction
The aim of this paper is to demonstrate how already known scientific techniques are
being applied in Cypriote archaeology today and how "traditional" archaeologists
are collaborating with scientists in resolving specific problems which traditional
methods have not been able to resolve.
New technology was applied in Cypriote archaeology already in the 1950's,
when carbon-14 analysis helped to date correctly the Cypriote Neolithic period
to the 7th and 8th millennia BC whereas it was hitherto dated by traditional
methods to the 4th millennium BC. Apart from the C-14 technique which was
introduced by Libby in the late 1940's, there are now other methods for dating
(e.g. thermoluminescence, potassium-argon dating, fission tracks, EPR dating
etc.) which have been used extensively in archaeological research to the extent
that they constitute the scientific core of a quantitative discipline which in some
quarters has been called Archaeometry. On the other hand, after the 1960's we
have witnessed the emergence of a new systematic multidisciplinary approach to
archaeological issues. This approach is to be distinguished from archaeometry
in the sense that the members of the multidisciplinary team (i.e. the chemist,
physicist, geologist, oceanographer, botanist, palinologist, geologist etc.) come
together for a specific project. This multidisciplinary approach has been
adopted mainly in cases where there are difficulties in the interpretation of the
archaeological material with traditional methods, mainly in prehistoric
archaeology. In contrast, the traditional archaeologist deals with such a wealth

D. Dirksen et al. (eds.), Optical Technologies in the Humanities

3
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1997
of information that he is much less motivated to seek the collaboration of
natural scientists. The situation presents an analogy with a criminal
investigation where the detective in charge will not seek the help of the forensic
scientist if the criminal he has arrested was standing next to the victim, with
blood on his hands.
The usefulness of a mUltidisciplinary approach emerges when it is preceded
by a thorough archaeological study of a large body of data, which allows the
formulation of clear-cut questions and helps to give appropriate answers. It is
in this spirit that scientists from different disciplines were brought together in
order to investigate the ancient ceramic technology in Cyprus from the
Neolithic to the Hellenistic periods.

2 Multidisciplinary Study of Cypriote Ceramic Technology

The geographical situation of Cyprus at the cross-roads of three continents has
exposed the island to contacts with and successive occupation by a wide range
of cultures which have left their mark on local artefacts (Myceneans and
Cretans, Phoenicians, Egyptians and others). Ceramic artefacts in particular
provide excellent material against which these interactions can be studied since
they contain multidimensional information with respect to the shape, the style
of decoration (incised, painted, plastic), the fabric, the raw materials used,
the manufacturing techniques etc. It is now widely recognised that the
investigation of ancient ceramic technology, which was usually based on the
analysis of the ceramic body in the past, can be complemented through the
analysis of the pigments used for the surface decoration [1].
A preliminary study of a small number of Cypro-Archaic polychrome
terracotta figurines from the Louvre Collection (figure 1) by using the PIXE
(Proton Induced X-ray Emission) non-destructive technique [2], revealed the
use of raw materials rich in manganese oxides for the black colour (i.e. umbers
which are abundant in Cyprus). This confirmed the application of the Mn-black
decoration technique in the Cypro-archaic I and II periods, at a time when it
had been abandoned in Greece [3] and totally replaced by the iron reduction
technique. The analysis also revealed [2] the presence of cinnabar (mercury
sulphide, HgS) in the red pigment of one of the figurines representing a horse
and rider (the one on the right in figure 1). Interestingly, the blue-green
pigment on the same figurine was identified as a zinc-based material, probably
zinc carbonate (smisthonite). These observations provide a contrast with the
most frequent use of ochre for the red and green earth (celadonite) for the
green, detected in the rest of the figurines which have been analysed (figures
2a,b, .... ). The latter two minerals (i.e. iron oxides and green earth) are
abundant in Cyprus, while cinnabar and smisthonite are not known to be
present on the island. A plausible explanation was that the use of such
pigments, probably imported from Anatolia or even Spain, characterises the
production of a distinct ceramic workshop. The consolidation and interpretation
of this suggestive evidence can only be achieved through a large scale
systematic study which has been undertaken during this project.

4
 The ceramics in the Cyprus Museum in Nicosia provide a complete and
comprehensive archaeological collection for the study which spans more than
40 centuries from Neolithic to Hellenistic times. Due to the nature and wealth
of the material, the first step of the project consisted of an in situ survey using
non-destructive analytical techniques, in conjunction with digital recording of
visual information (digital camera, 3-D image recording system). Recent
developments in X-ray detection have led to high resolution compact, portable
and low cost instruments operating at room temperatures. The use of this new
technology offers new possibilities for a conventional analytical technique such
as X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) and has made this survey possible.

Fig. 1. Cypro-Archaic polychrome terracotta figurines of the Louvre Collection.

An early, practically on line result of the survey was that no further evidence
for the use of cinnabar in red pigment was found in the Cyprus Museum
collection of all figurines on which the red paint was still preserved. The X -ray
analytical data showed that the red pigment was an iron rich material obviously
obtained by the use of ochre. A collection of 43 figurines was examined in less
than two hours. This illustrates the power of new technology in a case where
the archaeological question is very specific. In view of these results it is
probably safe to conclude that the presence of mercury sulphide (i.e. cinnabar)
in the single figurine in the Louvre Museum must be attributed to post
excavation retouching.
The XRF analysis of 75 ceramic artefacts revealed the alternate use of the
two different techniques for the production of black colour (figures 3a, b) which
are known as manganese black and iron reduction techniques. This interplay
between Mn - rich and Fe - based black indicates the use of very different

5
 4,--------------- 4 r-------------~

Si Ca (a)

o 2 468 10 o 2 4 6 8 10
X-ray Energy(keV) X-ray Energy(keV)

4r--------------~

Sif. (b~l Ca
(e)
AI 3
Fe

o I--_~~__,__L.!..jn..,_IIL,.J
o 2 4 6 8 10 o 2 4 6 8 10
X-ray Energy(keV) X-ray Energy(keV)

4 --------------, 4 ,--------------,
I Si Ca (c)
Ca
(f)

3
Fe
Ti
Mn Zn

Or---~--~--~--~_J!L_!!..._

o 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 o 2 4 6 8 10
X-ray Energy(keV) X-ray Eneroy(keV)

Fig. 2. Typical X-ray spectra obtained by PIXE analysis of Cypriote terracotta figurines from
the Louvre Collection. The thick line corresponds to the painted areas and the thin line to the
body. Relevant elements detected are underlined: (a) Mn-black, umber, (b) white, Ca and P
(pulverised bone?), (c) Hg-rich red, cinnabar, (d) Fe-rich red, ochre, (e) green, green earth, (t)
bluish-green, Zn based pigment (smisthonite?)

6
firing which consequently point to different technological traditions. The latter,
seen in the context of the different ethnic origin of the various potters (native
Cypriots, Cretans, Myceneans, Syrians, Phoenicians) during several periods,
may suggest either the introduction of new production techniques or the
resistance of local tradition to external influence.

10 5 r---------------------------------------------------,
Feka (a)

~
§ 1.99 3.99 5 99
o 104~-------------------------------------------------,
U FeKa

1.99 3.99 Ex(KeV) 5.99 7.99 9.99

Fig. 3. Typical XRF spectra of the dark paint decoration of two ceramic objects that
follow the White Slip I and II styles, respectively. (a) Mn-rich black pigment,
(b) Fe-based black produced by the iron reduction technique.

Following this initial survey which shed light on the surface decoration
techniques and materials used, certain categories of the Cyprus Museum
collection (i.e. White slip pottery, local imitations of Mycenean, Protowhite
painted, Protobichrome, early Geometric, Cypro-Archaic and Cypro-Classical)
will be studied in more detail by applying destructive techniques, mainly
Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Microanalysis
equipment (SEM/EDX) , petrographic analysis, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and
Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) on ceramic sherds specifically sampled to
match the characteristics of the most interesting exhibits. Special attention was
given to the selection of ceramic samples in collaboration with the
archaeologists. The above methodology, based on the application of several
analytical techniques, will be supplemented by reproduction experiments under
laboratory conditions.

7
 Throughout the project, the management and processing of the large body of
data consisting of analytical, visual and archaeological information will make
use of digital techniques in conjunction with the low cost data storage capacity
of personal computers and compact discs. Special emphasis has been given to
the synthesis of the research team in order to complement one another. For this
reason, a chemist specialising in archaeological ceramics, two physicists, a
geologist, a petrologist, and a computer scientist were brought together with
two archaeologists [5] as well as a ceramic artisan who, by the end of the
study, will replicate some representative artefacts by following the ancient
manufacturing techniques which will be elucidated through this project.

References
E. Aloupi, Nature and Micromorphology of Paint Layers on Ancient Ceramics. A New
Approach to the Study ofAncient Ceramic Technology (Ioannina,1994; ISBN 960-90007-0-3)
2 E. Aloupi and D. McArthur in The Coroplastic Art of Ancient Cyprus, Vol IV (A.G.
Leventis Foundation, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, 1995)
3 Jones, R.E., Greek and Cypriot pottery, 798-805. The British School at Athens, Fitch
Laboratory Occasional Paper 1, Athens, (1986)
4 Svardh, A., Analysis of pigments in painted terracottas in G. Ikosi, "Kythrea Temenos.
Unpublished Material from the Swedish Cyprus Expedition,» Medelhavsmuseet Bull. 28,
42-49. 1993
5 E. Aloupi, A. Karydas, P. Kokkinias, D. Loukas, T. Paradellis, A. Lekka, and V.
Karageorghis, in Proceedings of the 3m Symposium on Archaeometry of the GSA, (The Greek
Society for Archaeometry, Athens, forthcoming)