Conservação de Sítios de Arte Rupestre: resultados preliminares do estudo químico de pigmentos e depósitos de alteração no sítio Toca do Pinga da Escada

Abstract

This work presents preliminary results of the chemical study of pigments and deposits of alteration from the rock art site Toca do Pinga da Escada, Serra da Capivara National Park, Piauí, Brazil. Samples were studied using scanning electronic microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared absorption spectroscopy, elemental analysis, molecular UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, and complexation reactions with thiocyanate. The red paintings were prepared with hematite, aFe2O3, and the greenish and negress spots consist essentially of lichens and carbonates. Key words: archaeochemistry; rock art; prehistoric pigments.