Investigation of the pigment use in the Tomb of the Reliefs and other tombs in the Etruscan Banditaccia Necropolis

A groundbreaking analysis of pigments in the Etruscan Banditaccia Necropolis, including the renowned Tomb of the Reliefs, reveals the use of haematite, goethite, calcite, carbon black, manganese oxide, Tyrian purple, and Egyptian blue—with the latter three exclusively found under the central burial area. The study employed advanced techniques such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and Raman spectroscopy to overcome challenges posed by the heterogeneous tuff stone, which complicated pigment identification due to varying signals of calcium, manganese, and iron. While lightweight instruments limited some findings, they still provided valuable insights into Etruscan pigment practices.

Alfeld, M., Baraldi, C., Gamberini, M. C., & Walter, P. (2018). Investigation of the pigment use in the Tomb of the Reliefs and other tombs in the Etruscan Banditaccia Necropolis. X-Ray Spectrometry, 48(4), 262–273. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/xrs.2951