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Electron and Optical Microscopy of Prehispanic Mural Paintings

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2011

Diana Magaloni ,
Miguel Aguilar  and
Victor Castaño
Diana Magaloni
Affiliation:
E.N.C.R.M.-I.N.A.H.-S.E.P., Ex-convento de Churubusco, Coyoacán, Mexico D.F.
Miguel Aguilar
Affiliation:
Instituto de Física, U.N.A.M., AP. 20–364, Mexico, D.F. 01000.
Victor Castaño
Affiliation:
Instituto de Física, U.N.A.M., AP. 20–364, Mexico, D.F. 01000.
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Abstract

In 1984, archaeologists discovered an important group of mural paintings at the site of Cacaxtla, Mexico. Research has been undertaken to analyze the Prehispanic pigments and the painting techniques employed in these paintings. The present work is focused on the use of colors in these paintings by means of optical microscopy (OM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The stratigraphic structure of painting layers support the presence of an organic binding media. In addition, Maya blue is for the first time described physically by TEM.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 185: Symposium G – Materials Issues in Art and Archaeology II , 1990 , 145
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1990

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References

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