Enhancing Archaeological Insights: Role of Mössbauer Spectroscopy in Characterizing the Wall and Red Pigment of Tomb No. 63 of the Gaya Tumuli

This study explores the contributions of Mössbauer spectroscopy in characterizing the wall and red pigments used in Tomb No. 63 of the Gaya tumuli. Mössbauer spectroscopy, chromaticity, X-ray diffraction, and magnetic property analyses were employed to analyze iron oxides and (oxy)hydroxides in the red pigment and walls. Room-temperature Mössbauer spectroscopy analyses confirmed hematite as the primary component of the red pigment. The red pigment exhibited weak ferromagnetic behavior, whereas the walls displayed antiferromagnetic properties. Furthermore, the quadrupole splitting value from low-temperature Mössbauer spectroscopy indicated the absence of ferrihydrite and presence of superparamagnetic goethite in the walls. These findings provide crucial insights into environmental changes within the tomb and demonstrate the effectiveness of Mössbauer spectroscopy in distinguishing iron mineral phases in complex soil matrices. Moreover, this technique proves useful in archaeology by enhancing our understanding of red pigments and past soil environments.