Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource An Office of Science User Facility

Fig. 1. (A) Greek white-ground lekythos from the Antikensammlung Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (F 2683) showing purplish-red discolouration. (B) Detail showing purplish-red discolouration associated with overlying Egyptian blue pigment.

A team led by Karen Trentelman of the Getty Conservation Institute in Los Angeles used SSRL beam line 2-3 to analyze the chemical composition of layers of glaze and aging on a funeral lekythoi, a Greek vessel for storing oil, from 5^th century BCE Attica. They were particularly interested in a purplish discoloration on the surface layer of the lekythoi, and on many others like it. Using a variety of techniques, including electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Micro X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES), and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), the researchers found chemical evidence that the lekythoi was broken then burned with the body of the deceased as part of the funeral ceremony.

The analysis of this vessel deepens our understanding of Athenian customs. Using this technique, other museum artifacts might also share more of their ancient secrets. This work was published in the May 2010 issue of the Journal of Archeological Science.