Analytical Study of a Resinous Material Used as Sealing in Ancient Pottery Found in an Archaeological Site by Thermally Assisted Hydrolysis Methylation-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Vibrational Spectroscopy and Light Microscopy

• Published in: Analytical letters Vol. 42; no. 16; pp. 2637 - 2647
• Main Authors: Peris-Vicente, J., Valle-Algarra, F. M., Ferrer-Eres, M. A., Gimeno-Adelantado, J. V., Osete-Cortina, L., Doménech-Carbó, M. T., Mateo-Castro, R., Soriano-Piñol, M. D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Taylor & Francis Group 01.01.2009; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Amphora; Analytical chemistry; Ancient resin; archaeometry; Chemistry; Chromatographic methods and physical methods associated with chromatography; Exact sciences and technology; FTIR; Gas chromatographic methods; Hydrolysis; Lixus; Mathematical analysis; Microscopy; Pinaceae; Pinus; Polymers; Pottery; Resins; Spectrometric and optical methods; Spectrometry; Spectroscopy; THM-GC-MS; Morocco; Fourier transform spectroscopy; Sample; Use; Conservation; Iron; Air; Pinus; Vibrational spectroscopy; Hydrolysis; Infrared spectrometry; Archaeology; Gas chromatography; Ancient resin; archaeometry; Microscopy; FTIR; Pottery; THM-GC-MS; Technique; Methylation; Resins; Mass spectrometry
• ISSN: 0003-2719; 1532-236X
• DOI: 10.1080/00032710903243604

A resin sample was found in the archaeological site of Lixus (Morocco), belonging to the second century BC. The resinous material was found inside an amphora containing iron remains used in the plug as sealing material to hermetically close the pottery. The resinous sample was studied by several analytical techniques, as thermally assisted hydrolysis and methylation-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (THM-GC-MS), Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and light microscopy. The material was identified as a Pinaceae resin. Therefore, a modern pine resin was also analyzed to consider the influence of aging in the archaeological sample. The ancient material was found not too oxidized, owing to the conservation conditions inside the amphora, protected from air and moisture.