Non-destructive, 'in situ', characterization of pigments in Minoan pottery at the stratigrafical museum of Phaistos (Crete)

This paper presents preliminary results of measurements of chemical composition of pigments on the Middle Minoan pottery coming from Festos and Hagia Triada excavations. The measurements were carried out 'in situ' with the use of the PIXE-alpha spectrometer, with Po-210 radioisotope as a source of sample excitation, built at Laboratorio Nazionale del Sud. The method of measurements is described in detail and the limits are discussed. The preliminary results confirm the use of the reduced iron technique to obtain the black slips and of the talc to produce the white ones. Similarly, the presence of Manganese in some orange pigments can be associated with the use of red ochre mixed to talc, the latter being used as whitening material.