etruscan tombs

Characterization of nanostructured calcium carbonate found in two ancient Etruscan tombs

In this work, we have analyzed and characterized a white patina, that covers the walls and frescoes of two Etruscan tombs located in the Monterozzi’s necropolis of Tarquinia: the Tomba degli Scudi and the Tomba Bartoccini. The powders have been retrieved from these areas before and during the intervention of the restorers and then SEMEDX, FT-IR and XRD have been performed for the characterization. These white powders are formed by rod-like and crystalline calcium carbonate, the length of which is a few micrometers, while the thickness has an average value of about 400 nm.

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