Archaeology Research

Our very own Dr Louisa Campbell has recently published her innovative research on Roman polychromy practices on the German frontier - pXRF and Polychromy: Identifying Pigments on Limestone Statuary from the Roman Limes, Preliminary Results. This is the first study of its kind and part of a broader programme of research exploring how Roman artists used different pigments, stone and other raw materials in diverse cultural contexts to bring their sculptures vibrantly to life. A rich palette of colours has emerged, and a previously unknown practice of using carbon black mixtures to visibly reinforce carved features, such as folds in clothing, has broken new ground in understanding the performance of carved stones in Antiquity.

First published: 24 March 2024