An Archaeometric Investigation on the Pigments Used in the Wall Paintings of Post-Byzantine (XIX century) Churches in Cappadocia

Year 2023, Issue: 7, 41 - 57, 06.07.2023

Bengin Bilici Genç , Cem Gök , Evin Caner , Yusuf Özcan

https://doi.org/10.54577/lycus.1117155

Abstract

Cappadocia region, rock churches, monasteries, houses, underground settlements, valleys and historical and geological formations have unique beauty. The region, which is rich with its cultural assets belongs to Christian culture in Anatolia, is generally known with its rock churches, and is a subject to researches. The purpose of this study is; to understand the wall painting technology of the 19th century church, and to make a comparison with the wall painting materials of the rock churches. The study material is composed of pigments in the wall paintings of the Church of St. Theodoros Trion, which is from the 19th century, and located in Nevşehir. Scanning Electron Microscope and Energy Distributed Spectrometer (SEM-EDX), X-Ray Diffraction Spectrometry (XRD) and Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectrophotometer (FTIR) are used to determine material characterization of pigments. X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (XRF) analysis method was used in the analysis of the soil structure. As a result of analysis of the wall painting, it has been found that the ultramarine pigment is obtained from the lapis lazuli mineral and the covellite mineral of the covellite blue. In red, the red ochre and the caput mortuum pigment in purple color has been found. In the mineral of different pigment species, bauxite mineral belongs to the region have been detected. Green color, it has been determined that it is obtained from the glauconite and celadonite mineral in the region. According to the research carried out in the region in green color, it has been detected that only this pigment species has been used from the 6th century to the 19th century.

Keywords

Cappadocia, Pigments, Wall Painting, Post-Byzantine Church, Archaeometry

Supporting Institution

PAÜ-BAP

Project Number

2017ARKE002

Thanks

We would like to thank Turkey's Culture and Tourism Ministry, the Directorate of Nevşehir Museum for their contributions to the project and the Scientific Research Council of Pamukkale University, for research grant 2017ARKE002

Kapadokya’daki Post-Bizans (XIX yüzyıl) Kilisesindeki Duvar Resimlerindeki Pigmentlerin Arkeometrik Teknikler ile Araştırılması

Abstract

Kapadokya bölgesi, kaya kiliseleri, manastırları, evleri, yeraltı yerleşimleri, vadileri ve tarihi ve jeolojik oluşumları eşsiz güzelliklere sahiptir. Anadolu'da Hristiyan kültürüne ait kültürel varlıkları ile zengin olan bölge, genellikle kaya kiliseleri ile tanınmakta ve araştırmalara konu olmaktadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı; 19. yy kilisesinin duvar resim teknolojisini anlamak ve kaya kiliselerinin duvar resimlerinde kullanılan malzemeler ile karşılaştırma yapmaktır. Çalışma materyalini Nevşehir'de bulunan 19. yüzyıldan kalma St. Theodoros Trion Kilisesi'nin duvar resimlerinde bulunan pigmentler oluşturmaktadır. Pigmentlerin malzeme karakterizasyonunu belirlemek için Taramalı Elektron Mikroskobu ve Enerji Dağıtılmış Spektrometre (SEM-EDX), X-Işını Kırınım Spektrometresi (XRD) ve Fourier Dönüşümlü Kızılötesi Spektrofotometre (FTIR) kullanılır. Toprak yapısının analizinde X-Ray Floresan Spektrometresi (XRF) analiz yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Duvar resminin analizi sonucunda lacivert pigmentinin lapis lazuli mineralinden ve kovellit mavisinin kovellit mineralinden elde edildiği tespit edilmiştir. Kırmızıda, kırmızı aşı boyası ve mor renkte kaput mortuum pigmenti bulunmuştur. Farklı pigment türlerinin mineralinde bölgeye ait boksit minerali tespit edilmiştir. Yeşil rengin yörede bulunan glokonit ve seladonit mineralinden elde edildiği belirlenmiştir. Yeşil renkte bölgede yapılan araştırmalara göre 6. yüzyıldan 19. yüzyıla kadar sadece bu pigment türünün kullanıldığı tespit edilmiştir

Keywords

: Kapadokya, Pigment, Duvar Resmi, Post-Bizans Kilisesi, Arkeometri

Project Number

2017ARKE002

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