Analyses of Saint George (Kirk Dam Alti) Church Paint Layers Using ESEM-EDX&FTIR Methods

This study investigates the characterization of the wall paint layers of Saint George (Kirk Dam Alti) Church, a Byzantine-period rock-cut structure located in the Peristrema area of Ihlara Valley, Cappadocia. To identify the paint layers, the stratigraphy and composition of cross-sections and powdered samples were analyzed using ESEM-EDX (Philips-FET XL 3D-ESEM-FEG OXFORD X MAX 80 mm² X-ray Detector/INCA software) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The ESEM-EDX and FTIR results indicate that the pigments used are predominantly shades of red, green, and yellow ochre. The analysis of the dark blue paint sample shows that carbon black was mixed with gypsum. A detailed examination of the blue paint sample reveals a gray-blue tone achieved by mixing carbon black, smalt, ultramarine, and caput mortuum. Pure gypsum was used for the achieve white. Additionally, the advantages and disadvantages of using ESEM-EDX and FTIR methods for characterizing the stratigraphy of paint layers are discussed.