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Partial total ion chromatogram of lipid fraction 2 from resin heated at 350 ºC under oxygen-limited conditions indicating (black star) the methyl dehydroabietate peak (above) and its mass spectra (below)
Source publication
Tar or pitch produced from pine resin and wood played an important role in the past as an adhesive, waterproofing and medicinal product. However, the formation and biomolecular composition of pine tar produced only from resin under different combustion conditions (i.e., temperature and oxygen availability during heating) has not been as widely inve...
Citations
... This points towards heterogeneity in the disposed materials. Lipid biomarker data corroborates this heterogeneity, revealing both conifer-specific compounds (dehydroabietic acid) (Davara et al., 2023;Mackenzie et al., 1982;Oros and Simoneit, 2001a) and compounds associated with angiosperm input (friedelan-3-one, friedeline) (Diefendorf et al., 2011;Oros and Simoneit, 2001b), along with the presence of cholesterol. n-Alkane data and ACL values, which range between 29 and 29.8, indicate the presence of terrestrial plants, probably involving both woody taxa and grasses (Cranwell, 1973;Diefendorf et al., 2011;Freeman and Pancost, 2014). ...
... However, whereas the n-alkane profiles from House 1 showed no evidence of thermal alteration, the n-alkane data from Midden 1 indicates burning activity. Additionally, dehydroabietic acid, a compound linked to conifer input (Davara et al., 2023;Mackenzie et al., 1982;Oros and Simoneit, 2001a), was recurrently detected in House 1 and found in the ash-rich deposits of Midden 1. This conifer input, detected at a molecular scale, could be associated with the presence of Pinus tp. ...
Middens, commonly found in archaeological sites across different chronologies, serve as rich sedimentary archives of daily life by capturing the refuse and discarded artifacts of past human groups. This study focuses on the midden deposits of the Early Iron Age settlement site of Cerro de San Vicente (Central Iberia). We applied a high-resolution, microcontextual geoarchaeological approach, integrating soil micromorphology —including phytolith and charcoal analyses on thin sections—, sedimentary lipid biomarker analysis, X-Ray fluorescence (XRF), X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and magnetic properties analysis to investigate the formation processes and past functionality of the site’s midden deposits. Our findings reveal that the targeted sequences are primarily composed of wood ash and charred plant refuse, as well as trampled and disintegrated earth-based construction materials. These deposits are interpreted as the result of multiple hearth rake-out events, maintenance and construction activities, and possible spatially-related communal storage practices within the village. Stratigraphic connections between deposits from inside and outside the dwellings are proposed, linking the middens to an intermediate phase (ca. 600 BCE) of the village’s history. These results offer relevant insights into the spatial and temporal dynamics of refuse disposal, maintenance practices and space use at Cerro de San Vicente, highlighting the value of microcontextual geoarchaeological methods in unveiling domestic practices. This study contributes to enhancing our understanding of Early Iron Age socio-cultural and daily life practices in Central Iberia.
... This is based on the presence of Pinus-characteristic α and β secodehydroabietic acids and pimaric acid as a major pimarane [70]. We could not identify any abietane hydrocarbons (e. g. retene or methyl dehydroabietate) that would point towards strong heating of the resin as would be the case for wood tar [75][76][77]. ...
Birch bark tar is the most widely documented adhesive in prehistoric Europe. More recent periods attest to a diversification in terms of the materials used as adhesives and their application. Some studies have shown that conifer resins and beeswax were added to produce compound adhesives. For the Iron Age, no comparative large-scale studies have been conducted to provide a wider perspective on adhesive technologies. To address this issue, we identify adhesive substances from the Iron Age in north-eastern France. We applied organic residue analysis to 65 samples from 16 archaeological sites. This included residues adhering to ceramics, from vessel surface coatings, repaired ceramics, vessel contents, and adhesive lumps. Our findings show that, even during the Iron Age in north-eastern France, birch bark tar is one of the best-preserved adhesive substances, used for at least 400 years. To a lesser extent, Pinaceae resin and beeswax were also identified. Through statistical analyses, we show that molecular composition differs in samples, correlating with adhesive function. This has implications for our understanding of birch bark tar production, processing and mode of use during the Iron Age in France and beyond.
The rising water table has saved some of the marble decorations in the ancient sanctuary of Saint-Martin-au-Val. It has also preserved materials of organic origin. Yet a grey to black material has appeared associated with large stone shims visible on the plaster surface. These shims are known from Roman plasters. They are traditionally understood to be fitting elements, but this remains hypothetical. The material used is unprecedented: a kind of mortar made from pitch, beeswax and marble grains. It was obviously used to glue the shims to the underside of the marble slabs. These shims therefore had a completely different function: they were actually used to hold the marble parietal decoration in place, adding points of contact between the decoration and its plaster.
