Pigments and Plasters from the Roman Settlement of Thamusida (Rabat, Morocco)

Roman plasters from Thamusida, Morocco, reveal a consistent aesthetic and technical tradition shared with other Roman Provinces. Analysis of 22 samples using microscopy and Raman spectroscopy identified pigments like cinnabar, ochre, Egyptian blue, and carbon black, while mortar composition matched local limestone sources. Public buildings exhibited poor craftsmanship compared to private structures, indicating varying expertise among masons. The findings position Thamusida within a broader Mediterranean Roman 'koinè,' distinct from Italian sites.

GLIOZZO, E., CAVARI, F., DAMIANI, D., & MEMMI, I. (2011). PIGMENTS AND PLASTERS FROM THE ROMAN SETTLEMENT OF THAMUSIDA (RABAT, MOROCCO). Archaeometry, 54(2), 278–293. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-4754.2011.00617.x