An approach to the identification of ambers from different archaeological sites (Part 2)

Chemical studies on resinous materials in archaeological remains are generally aimed at identifying the origin of the materials present, at studying the production and manufacturing techniques, and at improving techniques for their conservation and restoration. This is particularly true for ambers remains. This paper presents some significant results for a systematic characterisation of the chemical composition of ambers of different provenance. The study has been carried out by using spectroscopic techniques, Raman and FT-IR with the aim ofcreating or extend FT-IR, Raman, FT-Raman libraries of geological and archaeological ambers. The data could be used as references in provenance studies of archaeological amber finds. Based on this knowledge, archaeological resinous materials, recoveredin a various sites, dating back from the VI century BC to the second centuryAD, have been analysed and the relevant results discussed. Comparisons of analytical detailed results enable the recent and ancient history of the materials to be traced. It is shown that provenance can be ascertained, in addition to the classical Beck’s method of FT-IR spectra (based on the special shape of the infrared spectrum in the 1500- 1000 cm-1 region), also by using Raman spectra and XRF data. The alteration of Museum preserved samples are taken into consideration for a description of the rapid changes of the spectra recorded.