Analysis of the Painted Plaster Fragments from the 2008–2011 Seasons

Tel Kabri is among a handful of eastern Mediterranean Middle Bronze Age sites to reveal examples of Aegean-style painting and is probably the oldest representation within the region. During the renewed excavations at the site from 2008 to 2011, approximately 60 painted fragments were found in Areas D-West and D-South. Our study focused on the color palette that was used, identification of pigments and color mixtures, and analysis of the paint layers and the painting techniques, as well as the plaster layers and plaster characteristics. The color palette includes only six colors: blue, red, yellow, orange, black, and white. Egyptian blue is the most common pigment found, appearing on 20 of the 60 painted fragments. The size of the pigment particles examined varies mostly between 5 to 100 µm. Most of the paint layers appear very flat and unified, and consist of one color only. In some areas, there are mixtures of different pigments to achieve the desired color. Further investigation of the painted fragments from Tel Kabri, revealed the use of egg as an organic binder, thus proving that the paint was applied using a secco technique or a combination of secco and fresco together.