How much can a shade of red reveal?

Massimiliano Puntin (MAPPALab) and Ilaria Benetti (Italian Ministry of Culture) present a diachronic study of the use of red ochre and cinnabar at coastal and insular sites in Roman northern Etruria.
The research examines decorative styles, application techniques and pigment mixtures to understand the strategies used to achieve specific shades. Combining archaeometric data, technological observations, and spatial and functional analyses, it also explores the relationship between cinnabar and environments exposed or not exposed to light, as well as possible regional associations between minerals and application techniques.
The study shows how the use of red pigments reflects interconnected decorative, technological, spatial, economic and symbolic choices.
Massimiliano Puntin & Ilaria Benetti, “Northern Etrurian Reds: the use of red ochre and cinnabar in Roman contexts from Tuscany” 32nd EAA Annual Meeting, Athens, 26–29 August 2026