Characterization of color production in Xalla's palace complex, Teotihuacan

A multi-analytical approach revealed that the chromatic palette used in Xalla's palace complex, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Teotihuacan, predominantly featured iron oxides such as hematite and yellow ochre, alongside malachite, celadonite, and glauconite. The study, led by Linda R. Manzanilla, expanded the known corpus of raw materials by identifying jarosite, bone white, and mica as aggregates. By combining microscopic and spectroscopic techniques with functional analysis of polished lithic artifacts, researchers proposed a four-phase production process for pigmenting materials, from crushing raw materials to applying and finishing painted surfaces. This research enhances our understanding of the sophisticated color production techniques employed in ancient Teotihuacan.

López-Puértolas, C., Manzanilla-Naim, L. R., & Vázquez-de-Ágredos-Pascual, M. L. (2019). Characterization of color production in Xalla’s palace complex, Teotihuacan. STAR: Science & Technology of Archaeological Research, 5(2), 221–233. https://doi.org/10.1080/20548923.2020.1723240