Birch-bark tar in the Roman world: the persistence of an ancient craft tradition?

• Published in: Antiquity Vol. 93; no. 372; pp. 1553 - 1568
• Main Authors: Regert, Martine, Rodet-Belarbi, Isabelle, Mazuy, Arnaud, Le Dantec, Gaelle, Dessi, Rosa Maria, Le Briz, Stephanie, Henry, Aureade, Rageot, Maxime
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Cambridge University Press 01.12.2019; Antiquity Publications/Cambridge University Press
• Subjects: Analytical chemistry; Archaeology; Archaeology and Prehistory; Biomarkers; Carbon; Chemical analysis; Chemical Sciences; Environment and Society; Environmental Sciences; Handicrafts; Historic artifacts; Humanities and Social Sciences; Identification; Iron Age; Mass spectrometry; Material chemistry; Organic chemistry; Pliny the Elder (23-79); Residues; Roman civilization; Scientific imaging; Traditions; France; Western Europe; Europe; birch-bark tar; gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; Roman period; direct inlet-mass spectrometry; Iron Age; Europe
• ISSN: 0003-598X; 1745-1744
• DOI: 10.15184/aqy.2019.167

Birch-bark tar, used continuously in the territory of modern Europe from the Middle Palaeolithic to the Iron Age, is conspicuous by its absence in the archaeological record of the Roman period, suggesting its replacement by conifer-based products. The results of chemical analyses of residues on Roman hinges, however, now challenge this interpretation. The presence of birch-bark tar in most of the samples demonstrates the persistence of a long-established practice into the Roman period. Examined in relation to textual and environmental evidence, these results illuminate the transmission of technical knowledge and the development of long-distance trade networks associated with birch-bark tar.