GEOSCIENCES AND CULTURAL HERITAGE Archeometric investigation on wall paintings from the most ancient Hellenistic hypogeum found in Sicily (C.da Apaforte-Licata (AG)) E. Aquilia 1 • A. Giuffrida 1 • C. Ingoglia 2 • P. Mazzoleni 1 • S. Raneri 1 Received: 12 January 2015 / Accepted: 31 March 2015 / Published online: 14 April 2015 Ó Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei 2015 Abstract In the present work, an analytical study of paint- ings from an ancient hypogeum, dated back to 4th–3rd cent B.C. and located in Licata (Sicily, Southern Italy) has been carried out. A selection of representative red, yellow and white wall colored plasters have been sampled and analyzed in non- destructive and micro-destructive way to identify the pig- menting agents, preparation layers and study the deterioration processes. In particular, the quantitative analysis of the che- mical composition of the different layers (pigments, prepa- ration layers, deteriorated parts) has been obtained through scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive spectrometry (SEM–EDS), while micro-Raman spectroscopy have been performed to investigate the molecular nature of the coloring agents used in the pigment layer. Finally, preliminary macroscopic and thin section analyses (OM) have been car- ried out with the aim to characterize plaster features and degradation processes. The obtained results, together with previous data on Hellenistic art in Sicily, may be helpful to create a database about the evolution of mural painting in Sicily as well as identify raw materials, pigment agents and painting techniques used in local plasters manufacture. Keywords Hellenistic paintings Á Pigments Á Spectroscopic analysis Á Sicily 1 Introduction Wall paintings represent a relevant archeological element in the definition of Hellenistic and Roman culture (Kakoulli 2002). Among the information that can be obtained from the study of the ancient wall colors remains, the knowledge about pigmenting agents and manufacture process is a cur- rent issue in the archeometric literature (Mazzocchin et al. 2003; Moretto et al. 2011; Cheilakou et al. 2014; Syta et al. 2014). In recent years, the use of non-destructive spectro- scopic analyses has become a routine in the study of arche- ological and art works (Vandenabeele 2004), especially in the investigation of pigments; in particular, Raman spec- troscopy has been widely applied in the study of pigments (Smith and Barbet 1999; Daniilia et al. 2000; Bersani et al. 2003, 2004). For aforementioned, a large number of database on ancient and modern pigments are available (Bell et al. 1997; Vandenabeele et al. 2000; Burgio and Clark 2001). In addition, the use of scanning electron microscopy with en- ergy-dispersive systems (SEM–EDS) represents a useful tool in highlighting interesting aspects on both pigments and preparation layers (Galli et al. 2004). In the framework of the studies on Sicilian painting pro- duction during Hellenistic Age, the plasters found near a hypogeum situated in C.da Apaforte-Licata (Sicily) are of relevant interest in view of the importance of the arche- ological site (La Torre 2011). The tomb, in fact, represents the most ancient Hellenistic hypogeum found in Sicily. The archeological significance of the site has led to a scientific project finalized to study the technological features of the colored plasters. Therefore, some representative specimens This contribution is the extended, peer reviewed version of a paper presented at the session ‘‘Archeometry and Cultural Heritage: the contribution of Geosciences’’ held during the conference ‘‘The future of the Italian Geosciences, the Italian Geosciences of the future’’, organized by the Societa ` Geologica Italiana and the Societa ` Italiana di Mineralogia e Petrologia, Milano, September 10–12, 2014. & S. Raneri sraneri@unict.it 1 Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Corso Italia 57, 95129 Catania, Italy 2 Department of Ancient and Modern Civilization, University of Messina, Polo Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy 123 Rend. Fis. Acc. Lincei (2015) 26:475–483 DOI 10.1007/s12210-015-0419-0