Coloring Techniques in Gandhāran Art: Spectroscopic Analysis of Applied colors on stucco

Abstract

Background Archaeologists are striving to survey, analyze and explore the colorful world of dead yet live civilization of Gandhāra. A series of samples taken from gilded Gandhā ran sculpted objects in portable artifacts and architectural decorative components, coming from different sacred sites of ancient Gandhāra, are in the course of analytical inspection. They are studied by the means of different archaeometric techniques. Although, given the precarious conservation and rarity of the objects available for analysis, the emerging evidence is discussed in the light of the gilding technologies so far described in other cultural areas and periods. It is also argued that, in the Gandhāran cultural complexes, the surface of sacred images might be covered with diverging procedures, vibrant color combinations, dictated by various technical and/or religious concerns therefore the proposed study is designed to explore the color trends and coloring techniques in Gandhāran,Art. Objectives The proposed study will be performed to screen out artifacts specifically stucco for their surfaces and colors (visible or invisible) to know the color trends, combinations and techniques used to paint such artifacts. Methodology The target site is first to be decided, which in the proposed study the artifacts present in the Museums of Pakistan or the stucco recovered from the excavation site Ogi of Mnsehra. This includes samples of gilded stone objects, sculpted images and architectural components recovered from different early historic sites. The sample acquiring followed by safe transfer to lab will be processed for analysis by spectroscopy techniques i.e FTIR (Fourier Transform InfrRed Spectroscopy). The inter-ferograms (graphical pictures of FTIR) obtained will be analyzed for the peak representations and thus the colors data would be collected. Sample size: Since the rarity of the sample is an issue, therefore the sample size would be decided based on availability of the samples. Expected Results We are expecting that the colors which appear on stucco were made by following different color combinations and by different temperature treatments leading to the final appearance of the stucco. This study would prove an asset to the information available to the Gandhāran Art Civilization.