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Decay Degree determination of Archaeological Shell Objects from the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan, using a Visible Light Spectrometer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 August 2012

María de Lourdes Gallardo Parrodi  and
José Luis Ruvalcaba Sil
María de Lourdes Gallardo Parrodi
Affiliation:
Museo del Templo Mayor, Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia, INAH. Seminario No. 8, Centro Histórico, Mexico DF 06060, Mexico. e-mail: gallardoparrodi@gmail.com
José Luis Ruvalcaba Sil
Affiliation:
Instituto de Física, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México UNAM. Apdo. Postal 20-364, México D. F. 01000, Mexico. e-mail: sil@fisica.unam.mx
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Abstract

In four offerings of the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan five groupings of Pinctada Mazatlanica shell pendants were found. Due to the burial conditions, damages on the surfaces can be observed in almost all the objects. In order to assess the deterioration degree, we used a visible light spectrometer. This is an inexpensive method to determine qualitatively the reflectance of the light at the surface that is directly related to the amount of organic material remains in these objects. This data may be used as a conservation marker for monitoring the collection and it can provide outstanding information to preserve the fragile shell pendants using a non-destructive method.

Keywords

microstructureoptical propertiesshells
Type
Articles
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1374: Symposium S8 – Cultural Heritage and Archaeological Issues in Materials Science , 2012 , pp. 177 - 185
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2012

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References

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