Pigment reveals ancient history

STONE artefacts were the topic of a recent lecture at the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society (D&G Heritage).

The speaker was Dr Louisa Campbell from the archaeology department at Glasgow University, and her talk was entitled ‘Recreating Colour on the Margins of Empire: a Monument to Minerva’.

At museums or archaeological sites there is always stone artefacts on display: statues, pieces of ancient buildings, etc, and these will invariably be made of local stone: be it white marble in southern Europe, or sandstone or limestone in Scotland.

But Dr Campbell explained this is not how they appeared when they were made – they were invariably painted, especially during the Roman period.

Careful examination of artefacts from southern Europe can often reveal residues of paint, but in soggy Scotland - very much the ‘Margins of Empire’ for the Romans - any visible paint has invariably been destroyed years ago.

However, by harnessing modern scientific analysis to archaeological research, Dr Campbell has been able to analyse barely visible paint residues on Scottish objects. Modern portable X-ray fluorescence machines can detect and identify minute residues of pigment, and allow a complete reconstruction of how an article was decorated.

Her main work has been with so-called ‘Distance Sculptures’ from the Antonine Wall. These engraved and decorated stones provide important information about the construction of the wall.

She has also worked on artefacts from Hadrian’s Wall and nearer to home, Dr Campbell described her work on the Altar of Minerva from the Roman fort at Birrens, near Ecclefechan. Made of sandstone, she found the stone was originally painted in a striking pattern of multiple colours; and this remarkable image can now be seen in Dumfries Museum.

n The society’s next talk will be given by Drs Jo Miller and Stuart Eydmann on Friday February 13, titled ‘The Hidden History of Fiddling in Dumfries and Galloway’. This will be held at The Bridge, Dumfries at 7.30 pm, and via Zoom. Further information at www.dgnhas.org.uk.