Technological aspects of painted plaster production at Artaxata, Armenia

Abstract This study investigates the technological aspects of painted plaster production at Artaxata, Armenia, through a multiscale analytical approach, comparing samples from a 2nd-century BCE sanctuary and a later (1st century BCE–1st century CE) structure, with the aim of contextualizing these practices within broader regional and chronological frameworks. Using petrography (Polarizing Light Microscope, PLM and Stereomicroscope, SM), geochemical analyses (pXRF, ICP-MS), and micromorphology, we investigate the plaster chaîne opératoire and pigment sourcing strategies. While the shift from gypsum to lime plasters may reflect technological innovation, the inclusion of pozzolanic additives suggests either sophisticated local expertise in hydraulic materials or the adoption of techniques through contact with neighbouring cultures that already employed such practices. This research highlights how Artaxata’s artisans navigated local traditions while responding to broader Hellenistic and early Roman cultural influences.