This research article delves into the in-depth analysis of the iconic Alexander Mosaic at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples using non-invasive methods. The study involved examining the mosaic’s two million tesserae using videomicroscopy, infrared thermography, multispectral imaging, portable X-ray fluorescence, Fourier transform infrared, and Raman spectroscopy. Surprisingly, the researchers discriminated ten tesserae colors and proposed hypotheses on their geological origins. The Mosaic, representing the Battle of Issus, is a masterpiece of the Roman era discovered in Pompeii in 1831. The study’s findings provided crucial insights for the ongoing restoration project of this remarkable artwork.
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0315188