The aim of the study was to investigate Seljuk Plasters used in some of their royal administrative or residential buildings from a viewpoint of their raw materials and technological characteristics. Some Byzantine Plasters of the same period were also investigated to make comparison. Plasters from some historic structures in the archaeological sites namely / Alanya Castle, Kubadabad Palaces, Syedra Archaeological Site, Aspendos Amphitheatre, Selinus Archaeological Site-Sekerhane K&ouml / sk and Hasbah&ccedil / e were examined. In a series of examination basic physical properties of the plasters as bulk density, porosity, water absorption capacity and water vapour permeability were obtained. The results indicated that plasters are low dense and high porous materials and having good breathing property. Mechanical properties of the plasters were expressed by the modulus of elasticity (Emod) values which were obtained from ultrasonic pulse velocity measurements. The Emod of the plasters being in the range of 1.0 to 5.6 Gpa show that they have enough mechanical strength comparable to historic mortars and bricks. Raw material composition and mineralogical properties of plasters were determined by combined interpretation of several types of analyses such as chemical analyses, particle size distribution of aggregates, petrographic analyses of thin sections by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopic analyses of cross sections coupled with EDX for image analyses and semiquantitative elemental analyses, X-ray powder diffraction analyses for the determination of mineral phases, thermogravimetric analyses and FTIR analyses. Binder used in all plasters was found to be lime with amount in the range of 53.8-96.8% as CaCO3. The main minerals of aggregates are quartz, calcite (limestone), dolomite and opal-A. Regarding particle size distribution of aggregates it was possible to classify them into fine, coarse and mixed aggregates having rather high pozzolanicity. Study on decorative and red zigzag patterned plasters indicated presence of haematite as the source of red pigment. Study on green colored plaster also indicated presence of iron containing mineral with lower oxidation state. The Seljuk and Byzantine Masonries chosen are still surviving buildings that their plasters should be of good quality. In fact, this study approved their quality which may be due to the presence of opal-A and dolomite.

Les matières colorantes sont des vestiges encore mal connus de nos jours. L'intérêt qu'elles suscitent tient à ce qu'elles sont susceptibles de révéler des pratiques techniques diverses et complexes, mais il tient aussi à leur forte potentialité à traduire des pratiques symboliques du fait de leur pouvoir colorant intense et des couleurs exploitées : le rouge et le noir qui sont encore aujourd'hui investis d'une forte valeur symbolique. Dans un contexte aussi particulier que celui de la transition entre le Paléolithique moyen et le Paléolithique supérieur, ces vestiges ont été mis au jour en abondance et demandent à être analysés pour restituer les modes de vie des derniers hommes de Neandertal. C'est sur le gisement châtelperronien de la grotte du Renne à Arcy-sur-Cure (Yonne), fouillé de 1949 à 1963 par André Leroi-Gourhan, que les nombreuses matières colorantes découvertes ont conduit à échafauder des théories concernant leurs transformations et leurs utilisations qui méritaient d'être éprouvées. En effet, il est supposé, depuis leur découverte, qu'elles ont fait l'objet d'un chauffage contrôlé qui visait à en modifier la couleur, le chauffage permettant de transformer les matières colorantes jaunes en orangées, en rouges et en violacés. De cette hypothèse découle la théorie selon laquelle les Néandertaliens ont exploité les matières colorantes en tant que pigment pour des réalisations symboliques, voire d'ordre esthétique, ce qui n'a pas encore pu être prouvé. Notre étude, fondée sur le croisement des données issues des analyses de la nature physico-chimique et pétrographique des assemblages de matières colorantes, mais aussi sur leur intégration dans le gisement, en association avec des structures d'habitat dont la conservation est exceptionnelle, et sur une série d'expérimentations visant à caractériser les poudres obtenues par différents moyens (broyage et concassage d'une part, abrasion d'autre part) ont permis de définir les choix techniques qui ont présidé à l'approvisionnement en matières colorantes dans tous les niveaux d'occupation châtelperroniens de la grotte du Renne. Il a ainsi été possible de démontrer qu'aucune des matières colorantes, rouges ou noires, n'a fait l'objet d'un chauffage préalablement à son utilisation, bien au contraire de ce qui avait été supposé jusqu'ici. Ces matières colorantes ont fait l'objet d'un approvisionnement raisonné auprès de formations géologiques affleurant ponctuellement à plus de 10~km et à environ 5~km de la grotte. L'exploitation de ces gîtes de matières premières colorantes a été la même durant toute la séquence châtelperronienne et s'est orientée préférentiellement vers des matériaux que l'on peut aisément réduire en poudre. Une partie était grossièrement réduite en poudre afin de recouvrir de grandes surfaces (sols, peaux de bêtes) dans le but de les assainir, alors qu'une autre partie des matières colorantes était destinée à des activités plus minutieuses nécessitant leur emploi sous forme d'une poudre fine, régulière et extrêmement colorante. Dans ce dernier cas, les Néandertaliens de la grotte du Renne ont entrepris d'exploiter ces produits en association avec le travail des matières osseuses (os et ivoire de mammouth) mais aussi pour leur couleur. L'assemblage des matières colorantes de la grotte du Renne révèle un profond ancrage des connaissances et de la compréhension des multiples propriétés et qualités des matières colorantes intensément mises à profit de telle sorte que le gisement châtelperronien était tout de rouge et noir et la chaîne opératoire qu'il été possible de restituer relève d'inventions techniques abouties, très élaborées dans leur genre pour l'état des observations ingénieuses, des découvertes et donc de la pensée qu'elles supposent et des capacités dont elles témoignent. / Despite an increasing number of studies, colouring materials are still poorly understood among excavation remains. Their attraction lies in their capacity to bring to light diverse and complex skills, but also in their intense colouring power and their contrasting colours: red and black, which still possess a symbolic value. These highly-symbolic materials may, therefore, highlight the “conceptual” practices of prehistoric men and give access to their symbolic world and thought. In such a particular context as the transition between the Middle and the Upper Palaeolithic, these remains, which are very abundant in most excavations, offer the possibility, through analysis, to get an exceptional insight into the way of life of the last Neanderthals. The Châtelperronian site of the “Grotte du Renne”, in Arcy-sur-Cure (Yonne), is a landmark. It was excavated beween 1949 and 1963 by André Leroi-Gourhan: Numerous colouring materials were discovered there, and Leroi-Gourhan developed theories about their transformation and uses which so far have not been tested, and have remained unchallenged. Since their discovery, the assumption is that those minerals were heated in a controlled way, in order to modify their colour. It is indeed well-known that heat transforms yellow materials (iron oxides) in orange, red or purple materials (other iron oxides). From this hypothesis originates the theory according to which Neanderthals exploited colouring materials as pigments for symbolic or even aesthetic purposes. But the theory has so far never been proved true. Our study combines several sets of data, obtained from different methods. Physico-chemical and petrological analyses were carried out on the colouring materials. These data were related to their location on the site, in association with exceptionally well preserved “hut” structures. Furthermore, a series of experimentations, aimed to characterize powders obtained via different methods (grinding and crushing on the one hand, abrasion on the other hand). The comparison of all these data enabled us to identify the various technical choices which informed the supply in colouring minerals in all the Châtelperronian levels of the Grotte du Renne. It was thus possible to demonstrate that none of these materials, either red or black, was heated before being used, contrary to what had been assumed so far. The supply in colouring materials was as carefully organised as for other materials (flint, for example); they were collected in geological formations occasionally showing on the surface, at more than 10 km from the cave. The exploitation of these geological sites did not vary during the whole Châtelperronian period, and privileged materials which can easily be ground into powder. Part of their supply was ground coarsely in order to cover large surface areas (soils or hides) as preservative or to clean them up. The remaining materials were destined to more meticulous activities, which required a fine, regular, and highly-colouring powder. In this latter case, the Neanderthals of the Grotte du Renne used those products when working on bone materials (bone or mammoth ivory), and used them also for their sheer colour. The set of colouring minerals from the Grotte du Renne reveals Neanderthals’ in-depth knowledge of materials; they understood perfectly well their properties and qualities, and used them extensively, so that the Châtelperronian site must have been a literally dazzling sight, all red and black. The “chaîne opératoire” which transpires from our analysis shows very sophisticated techniques, and an advanced “technological” knowledge. They are witness to surprising capacities and a highly-evolved pattern of thought. Keywords: Colouring materials; Ochre; Haematite; Manganese; Middle/Upper Palaeolothic transition; Châtelperronian; Arcy-sur-Cure; Grotte du Renne; Heating; Grinding; Skhul; Les Maîtreaux; Combe Saunière.