Seminar | October 21 | 2-3 p.m. | 180 Tan Hall
Prof. Ioanna Kakoulli, UCLA, MSE & Conservation
Berkeley Nanosciences and Nanoengineering Institute
Invention and the processes of innovation in technology in ancient societies is revealed through surviving ancient engineered materials that played a significant role in human experience and life. Notable examples include the production of stable and durable colorants, such as ceramic pigments involving high heat treatment, namely Egyptian blue (CaCuSi4O10) and Chinese blue (BaCuSi4O10) employed in the decoration of temples, wall paintings, tombs, sculptures and pottery.
Within the broader context of ancient technologies and industries, this presentation explores, at the micron and submicron length scale, the synthesis of Egyptian blue and its chemically analogue Chinese blue.
From an archaeological science perspective, using reverse engineering processing and the application of spatially-consistent and structurally and compositionally sensitive analytics such as optical and electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, fiber optics reflectance spectroscopy (FORS), Raman spectromicroscopy and synchrotron-based X-ray spectroscopies, we assess the raw materials choices and the chaîne opératoire of the manufacture of these materials.
From a materials engineering perspective, we consider the exceptional properties of these materials for the design of novel materials for modern applications.
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Dr. Ioanna Kakoulli did her PhD at Oxford. She has a joint appointment at UCLA in MSE and the Getty Program in the Conservation of Cultural Heritage & Archaeology and is co-director of the Molecular and Nano Archaeology Laboratory.
victorr@eecs.berkeley.edu, 510-643-6681
Avi Rosenzweig, victorr@eecs.berkeley.edu, 510-643-6681
