Pages: 361-367

Patina of different bright tints of red, yellow and white on the surface of lead objects attract scientific interest to them. Raman scattering spectroscopy was employed in order to define their mineral composition. Different lead compounds have been identified on the surface of ancient lead artefacts. Some of the minerals may have been used from antiquity as pigments in paints. In the studied case, however, their origin is a result of natural mineralization processes rather than artificial colouring. In this article, different approaches to restoration of archaeological lead finds are discussed. Many restoration methods disregard the necessity of careful treatment of patina. Chemical reactions undergone during restoration change considerably the appearance and colour of lead objects.

Keywords: Ancient Rus, commodity seals, conservation, restoration, patina, lead, red lead, litharge, cerussite, hydrocerussite, white lead, Raman spectroscopy

Information about authors:

Nikolai Kurganov (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Saint Petersburg State University. Universitetskaya Emb., 7/9, Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
Konstantin Gorlov (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]