Identification of the pigment in painted pottery from the Xishan site by Raman microscopy

Shards from the archaeological site of Xishan (Henan, China) were analyzed by Raman microscopy to determine the pigments used in the decoration of this ancient (ca 4300–2800 BC) pottery. It was found for the first time that anatase was used for white coating 5000 years ago and this represents a contribution to the current knowledge of the history of pigments. The brown coating was identified as graphite. The red and black coatings were mainly haematite and magnetite; the colour of the coatings depends on the ratio of haematite to magnetite. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.