MICRO-RAMAN SPECTROSCOPIC STUDIES OF BYZANTINE CULTURAL HERITAGE IN REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA*

In the last decade, micro-Raman spectroscopy is recognized as one of the powerful non-destructive analytical techniques for physical-chemical characterization of cultural heritage artifactsartefacts. Activities regarding the use of mi-cro-Raman spectroscopy in characterization of archaeological objects were recently carried out in Republic of Macedonia. As a pilot project, pigment analysis (1) in the underlayer and overlayer (from the 17th and from the 19th cen-tury, respectively) of the wall paintings in Sveta Bogorodica Church in Lešok and (2) in the paints (blue, red, orange, green and yellow) used in six icons painted by Dičo Zograf, in three different churches in the Skopje region, was un-dertaken. The pigments used, as well as their mixtures, were identified using micro-Raman spectroscopy. In order to achieve some understanding and characterization of the materials of the Byzantine glazed ceramic finds in Republic of Macedonia, as well as to obtain information on their manufacturing technology, micro-Raman spectra of fifteen glazed fragments, all dated from 12th to 15th century, were recorded. Based on their Raman spectra, it was possible to estimate the firing temperature of the analyzed glazes. Key words: micro-Raman spectroscopy; pigments; Byzantine glazed ceramics; icons and wall paintings ПРИМЕНА НА МИКРО-РАМАНСКАTA СПЕКРОСКОПИЈА ВО ИСПИТУВАЊЕ НА ВИЗАНТИСКОТО КУЛТУРНО НАСЛЕДСТВО ВО РЕПУБЛИКА МАКЕДОНИЈ