Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Synchrotron Light Unveils Oil In Ancient Buddhist Paintings From Bamiyan
Physorg ^ | 4-2-2008 | European Synchrotron Radiation Facility

Posted on 04/22/2008 1:37:21 PM PDT by blam

Synchrotron light unveils oil in ancient Buddhist paintings from Bamiyan

A cross-section of the sample, where the different layers are visible. Credit: National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo (Japan)

The world was in shock when in 2001 the Talibans destroyed two ancient colossal Buddha statues in the Afghan region of Bamiyan. Behind those statues, there are caves decorated with precious paintings from 5th to 9th century A.D. The caves also suffered from Taliban destruction, as well as from a severe natural environment, but today they have become the source of a major discovery.

Scientists have proved, thanks to experiments performed at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), that the paintings were made of oil, hundreds of years before the technique was “invented” in Europe. Results are published today in the peer-reviewed Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry.

In many European history and art books, oil painting is said to have started in the 15th century in Europe. But scientists from the National Research Institute for Cultural Properties in Tokyo (Japan), the Centre of Research and Restoration of the French Museums-CNRS (France), the Getty Conservation Institute (United States) and the ESRF have recently identified drying oils in some of the samples they studied from the Bamiyan caves. Painted in the mid-7th century A.D., the murals show scenes with Buddhas in vermilion robes sitting cross-legged amid palm leaves and mythical creatures. The scientists discovered that 12 out of the 50 caves were painted with oil painting technique, using perhaps walnut and poppy seed drying oils.

A combination of synchrotron techniques such as infrared micro-spectroscopy, micro X-ray fluorescence, micro X-ray absorption spectroscopy or micro X-ray diffraction was crucial for the outcome of the work. "On one hand, the paintings are arranged as superposition of multiple layers, which can be very thin. The micrometric beam provided by synchrotron sources was hence essential to analyze separately each of these layers. On the other hand, these paintings are made with inorganic pigments mixed in organic binders, so we needed different techniques to get the full picture" Marine Cotte, a research scientist at CNRS and an ESRF scientific collaborator explains.

The results showed a high diversity of pigments as well as binders and the scientists identified original ingredients and alteration compounds. Apart from oil-based paint layers, some of the layers were made of natural resins, proteins, gums, and, in some cases, a resinous, varnish-like layer. Protein-based material can indicate the use of hide glue or egg. Within the various pigments, the scientists found a high use of lead whites. These lead carbonates were often used, since Antiquity up to modern times, not only in paintings but also in cosmetics as face whiteners.

“This is the earliest clear example of oil paintings in the world, although drying oils were already used by ancient Romans and Egyptians, but only as medicines and cosmetics”, explains Yoko Taniguchi, leader of the team.

The paintings are probably the work of artists who traveled on the Silk Road, the ancient trade route between China, across Central Asia's desert to the West. However, there are very few studies about this region. “Due to political reasons research on paintings in Central Asia is scarce. We were fortunate to get the opportunity from UNESCO, as a part of conservation project for the World Heritage site Bamiyan, to study these samples and we hope that future research may provide deeper understanding of the painting techniques along the Silk Road and the Eurasian area”, says Taniguchi.

The results were presented in a scientific conference in Japan last January, but are only published today in a peer-reviewed journal.

Source: European Synchrotron Radiation Facility


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: ancient; godsgravesglyphs; oil; paintings; synchrotron
Thanks to Red Badger for the article.
1 posted on 04/22/2008 1:37:21 PM PDT by blam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv; Red Badger

GGG Ping.


2 posted on 04/22/2008 1:38:14 PM PDT by blam (Secure the border and enforce the law)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: blam
What good is finding oil if we can't drill for it. STUPID ENVIOROMENTALIST!
3 posted on 04/22/2008 1:45:27 PM PDT by 11th Commandment (At least McCain wants to Kill Terrorists - Obama wants to associate with them)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: blam
This is particularly interesting -- considering your recent post of the Chinese discovery that egg albumin was used in/over the paints on the terracotta army figures.

Many thanks for all your efforts to dig up (pun intended) and post all these neat archaeology articles!!!

4 posted on 04/22/2008 1:46:17 PM PDT by TXnMA ("Allah": Satan's current alias...!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TXnMA
I believe this area, where the paintings were found was mostly (if not exclusively) inhabited by Caucasian people at the time they were painted. It is my opinion that the Tocharians took Buddhism to India and China. Tocharian A & B is an extinct Indo-European language that is closely associated with an ancient Celtic language.

Probably related to these folks:

The Curse Of The Red-Headed Mummy

5 posted on 04/22/2008 2:04:04 PM PDT by blam (Secure the border and enforce the law)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger; blam; StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; 1ofmanyfree; 24Karet; 3AngelaD; 49th; ...

· join list or digest · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post a topic ·

 
Gods
Graves
Glyphs
Thanks Blam and Red Badger.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.
GGG managers are Blam, StayAt HomeMother, and Ernest_at_the_Beach
 

· Google · Archaeologica · ArchaeoBlog · Archaeology magazine · Biblical Archaeology Society ·
· Mirabilis · Texas AM Anthropology News · Yahoo Anthro & Archaeo ·
· History or Science & Nature Podcasts · Excerpt, or Link only? · cgk's list of ping lists ·


6 posted on 04/22/2008 10:52:16 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/_____________________Profile updated Saturday, March 29, 2008)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: blam

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7508917.stm

Islamists Damage Giant Rock Buddha
The Telegraph (UK) | 10-11-2007 | Ben Quinn
Posted on 10/10/2007 6:30:46 PM PDT by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1909528/posts

Another Attack On The Giant Buddha Of Swat
(Islamofascists Compelled By “The Religion Of Peace”)
AsiaNews.it | 11/09/2007 | AsiaNews.it
Posted on 11/10/2007 11:14:14 AM PST by DogByte6RER
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1923887/posts


7 posted on 07/27/2008 10:25:50 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/_________________________Profile updated Friday, May 30, 2008)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson