Identification of an Adhesive Used to Repair a Roman Jar

Charters, S.; Evershed, R. P.; Goad, L. John; Heron, C.; Blinkhorn, Paul

doi:10.1111/j.1475-4754.1993.tb01025.x

Cited by 94 publications

(68 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…The molecular structure of these triterpenoid derivatives was determined by the study of their mass spectrum based on the comparison with mass spectra available on the NIST data base or discussed in other papers [6,7,12,33] and with those obtained on commercial standards (betulin: Sigma B9757; lupeol: Sigma L5632; and betulinic acid: Extrasynthse 0031S).…”

Section: Characterisation Of Triterpenoid Adhesivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating the history of prehistoric glues by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Regert

2004

J of Separation Science

132

100

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Although organic materials are very sensitive to biochemical alteration processes, they may be preserved for millennia in various archaeological contexts. Remains of adhesives made during prehistory were discovered at different sites, in the form of residues adhering to flint tools and ceramic vessels or as free lumps in sediment. To characterise the natural substances exploited for adhesive production during late prehistory, we undertook GC and GC/MS analysis of 90 samples from 8 sites dating from the Neolithic to Iron Age periods. This paper discusses our approach to the study of organic adhesives preserved in archaeological contexts, with a particular focus on the presentation of the various categories of organic adhesives that we analysed and the choice of chromatographic conditions adapted to the specificity of such samples. The results obtained show that birch bark tar, a triterpenoid adhesive made by destructive distillation of white birch bark, was predominantly used during the neolithic period even though other materials such as various barks or organic fossil substance were also used. During the Bronze and Iron ages, which follow the Neolithic period, adhesive production is evolving through the expansion of the range of the natural substances used (identification of diterpenoid pine resin) and the addition of beeswax as a plasticiser to birch bark tar. By combining chromatographic analysis and archaeological data, it was thus possible to follow the evolution of adhesive making at the end of prehistory, testifying to the inventiveness of the craftsmen whatever the period considered.

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Section: Characterisation Of Triterpenoid Adhesivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating the history of prehistoric glues by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Regert

2004

J of Separation Science

132

100

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“…It is well-known among archaeologists that dark organic materials are frequently found when excavating European sites dated mainly from neolithic to Roman times 9 . Although they are primarily occurring in northern and central Europe, they occasionally were also found in Mediterranean sites 10 .…”

Section: General Archaeological Remarksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Studies in Organic Archaeometry VII ‐ Differentiation of Wood and Bark Pitches by Pyrolysis Capillary Gas Chromatography (PY‐CGC)

et al. 2007

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Tars and pitches were prepared from wood and bark of various deciduous trees and conifers and analysed with the intention to distinguish between various starting materials. All this was done before the background of an archaeometrical problem: to provide a basis for the chemical identification of those pitches which are frequently found in archaeological excavations.Intending to extend the already existing possibilities for such analyses the present paper is dealing with the application of pyrolysis coupled with capillary gas chromatography and by subsequent chemometric studies. It could be shown that by this technique indeed not only tars and pitches prepared from deciduous trees and from conifers could clearly be differentiated, but that even respective species could be identified. Thus a fundament is provided for future studies aiming to identify the starting material of real archaeological finds by a novel method which requires by far less quantities of sample material as compared to the methods hitherto used by us.

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“…Indeed birch bark pitch seems to have been a real "multifunctional" substance in prehistoric times 5 : it is known to have been frequently used for a variety of purposes, e.g., as coating of pottery 6,7 , as "glue" for ancient repair work 8 , as adhesive used to fix weapons (e.g. flintstone arrowheads) to their handles 9 or shafts 10,11 and even as a gift offered in ancient rites 12 .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Studies in organic archaeometry V1: Chemical analysis of organic material found in traces on an Neolithic terracotta idol statuette excavated in Lower Austria

Sauter¹,

Вармуза²,

Werther³

et al. 2002

Arkivoc

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In an Early Neolithic settlement found in Lower Austria and excavated by the Prehistoric Department, Museum of Natural History, Vienna, pieces of broken terracotta figurines were found, all of them belonging to male and female statuettes (the latter being considered as socalled idols). Traces of an organic material found on one of them were analyzed at the Vienna University of Technology. By means of GC-MS and ensuing chemometric data analysis this organic material could be identified as birch bark pitch, a material frequently used for many purposes in prehistoric Europe.

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Identification of an Adhesive Used to Repair a Roman Jar

Cited by 94 publications

References 12 publications

Investigating the history of prehistoric glues by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Investigating the history of prehistoric glues by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Studies in Organic Archaeometry VII ‐ Differentiation of Wood and Bark Pitches by Pyrolysis Capillary Gas Chromatography (PY‐CGC)

Studies in organic archaeometry V1: Chemical analysis of organic material found in traces on an Neolithic terracotta idol statuette excavated in Lower Austria

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