Romano-British mortars and plasters
This thesis is a study into the extent to which the comments of the classical writers regarding plaster, mortar and pigments can be tested by archaeological science applied to a data base from the Roman period in Britain. My original interest in this project was stimulated by reading Davey and Ling's excellent book on wallpainting in Roman Britain (Davey and Ling 1982), which, although very enlightening, I felt lacked some technical aspects which required proper scientific study. Whilst art historical studies are fairly common, they often contain little technical information. Technological aspects of painting and plastering have been reported on (Weatherhead 1987), but the scientific analysis of the materials is rarely encountered (Ashurst 1984; Davey 1961; Plesters in Rahtz 1963: 337 - 341; Wetzel 1980, have all commented on various selected aspects of mortar and plaster composition). The art historical aspects of wall painting are not discussed here, being detailed elsewhere by recent authors (Davey and Ling 1982; Ling 1985; 1991). Pigment and mortar analyses have been carried out in the past, notably by Sir Humphry Davy in Rome, who carried out perhaps some of the earliest detailed chemical analysis in
Morgan, Graham C.
Romano-British mortars and plasters. This thesis is a study into the extent to which the comments of the classical writers regarding plaster, mortar and pigments can be tested by archaeological science applied to a data base from the Roman period in Britain. My original interest in this project was stimulated by reading Davey and Ling's excellent book on wallpainting in Roman Britain (Davey and Ling 1982), which, although very enlightening, I felt lacked some technical aspects which required proper scientific study. Whilst art historical studies are fairly common, they often contain little technical information. Technological aspects of painting and plastering have been reported on (Weatherhead 1987), but the scientific analysis of the materials is rarely encountered (Ashurst 1984; Davey 1961; Plesters in Rahtz 1963: 337 - 341; Wetzel 1980, have all commented on various selected aspects of mortar and plaster composition). The art historical aspects of wall painting are not discussed here, being detailed elsewhere by recent authors (Davey and Ling 1982; Ling 1985; 1991). Pigment and mortar analyses have been carried out in the past, notably by Sir Humphry Davy in Rome, who carried out perhaps some of the earliest detailed chemical analysis in
romano_british mortar plaster study extent comment classical writer regard plaster mortar pigment test archaeological science apply data base roman_period britain original interest project stimulate read excellent book roman_britain although felt technical_aspect require proper scientific study whilst art_historical study fairly common often_contain little technical information technological aspect paint report scientific_analysis material rarely encounter comment various select_aspect mortar plaster composition art_historical aspect wall_painting discuss_detail elsewhere recent author person pigment mortar analysis_carry past notably sir rome carry perhaps early detailed chemical_analysis