Analytical studies of the Alexandrovo Thracian tomb wall paintings

• DSC, FTIR, HRTEM and EDS analysis of archaeological samples.
• Beeswax used as a binding agent in Thracian tomb wall paintings in the 4th century BC.
• Presence of Au, TiO2 and CeO2 nano-particles.

A profound study of samples obtained from Thracian tomb wall paintings at Alexandrovo, Bulgaria (dating back to the fourth century BC) were carried out by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR FTIR), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The current work provides a glimpse of the ingenious construction and painting techniques used in Thracian tomb at Alexandrovo. The results suggest that beeswax was used as a paint binder and also revealed presence of various nano-materials.

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