carbon black ink

Ingredients

amorphous carbon

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

Carbon black was identified as an amorphous carbon-based ink (p. 10). It was found to be used both alone and in mixture with iron gall inks (p. 14). Hyperspectral imaging showed that carbon-based inks remain dark over the entire spectral range up to 1700 nm, unlike iron gall inks which tend to fade or disappear (p. 9).

Evidence

"Moreover, carbon black ink is also observed in the object SEM EM 24 147 by the presence of typical broad bands centered at 1300 and 1600 cm-1 due to the amorphous carbon"

Remarks

In object SEM EM 24 140, a mixed iron gall ink/carbon-based ink was probably used (p. 14). Carbon black was often used for drawing borders or in specific locations on the amulets (p. 9, 10). The study notes that carbon black ink is a traditional material that remained in use alongside newer imported materials during the colonial period (p. 15).