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Chiaia V, Micalizzi G, Donnarumma D, Irto A, Bretti C, Venuti M, Lando G, Mondello L, Cardiano P. Study of oxidation products in aged olive oils by GC and HPLC techniques coupled to mass spectrometry to discriminate olive oil lipid substances in archaeological artifacts from ancient Taormina (Italy). J Chromatogr A 2024; 1731:465154. [PMID: 39053251 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2024.465154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
The identification of archaeological biomarkers is one of the main objectives of analytical chemistry in the archaeological field. However, no information is currently available on biomarkers able to unambiguously indicate the presence of olive oil, a cornerstone of Mediterranean ancient societies lifestyle, in an organic residue. This study aims to bridge this gap by a thorough characterization of the degradation products of extra-virgin olive oils (EVOOs) resulting from in-lab thermal oxidative treatments, with the primary goal of revealing potential archaeological biomarkers for olive oil. Thirty-three EVOOs sourced from eleven different monocultivars across five Italian regions (Sicily, Apulia, Lazio, Tuscany, and Liguria) and Spain, were analyzed before and after thermal oxidation. In addition, an identical thermal treatment was employed on pure triglyceride standards (triolein, trilinolein, and tristearin), due to the high concentration of their fatty acids in EVOO discerning their degradation patterns. A combination of analytical strategies was employed, including HPLC-MS and HPLC-ELSD for the complete evaluation of the intact lipids (triglycerides, diglycerides, and their oxidative species) in olive oils before and after oxidation, and HS-SPME-GC-MS and GC-FID for the characterization of secondary oxidation products formed by the thermal treatment. In addition, to elucidate the fatty acid distribution in the oxidized EVOOs by GC-MS and GC-FID techniques a derivatization step was performed to convert lipid compounds into trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives. A chemometric approach was used to thoroughly interpret the data obtained from intact and oxidized samples. This comprehensive investigation sheds light on the chemical transformations of EVOOs under thermal oxidative conditions and indicates mono-carboxylic acids such as pentanoic, hexanoic, heptanoic, octanoic, nonanoic, and decanoic acids as potential archaeological biomarkers for the presence of lipid substances coming from olive oil in archaeological organic residues. Finally, lipid contents from twenty-four real archaeological samples, grouped in amphorae (10), unguentaria (5), and lamps (9), excavated from the Roman domus of Villa San Pancrazio in Taormina (Italy), were determined. The analytical results obtained from amphorae samples revealed the presence of the selected olive oil-specific archaeological biomarkers, an information extremely interesting considering that this type of amphorae have so far been solely associated with the storage of wine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Chiaia
- MeIT c/o Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, former Veterinary School, University of Messina, Viale G. Palatucci snc 98168, Messina, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Micalizzi
- MeIT c/o Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, former Veterinary School, University of Messina, Viale G. Palatucci snc 98168, Messina, Italy.
| | - Danilo Donnarumma
- MeIT c/o Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, former Veterinary School, University of Messina, Viale G. Palatucci snc 98168, Messina, Italy
| | - Anna Irto
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres, 31 98166, Messina, Italy
| | - Clemente Bretti
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres, 31 98166, Messina, Italy
| | - Marta Venuti
- Department of Ancient and Modern Civilizations, University of Messina, Viale G. Palatucci snc 98168, Messina, Italy
| | - Gabriele Lando
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres, 31 98166, Messina, Italy
| | - Luigi Mondello
- MeIT c/o Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, former Veterinary School, University of Messina, Viale G. Palatucci snc 98168, Messina, Italy; Chromaleont s.r.l., c/o Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale G. Palatucci snc 98168, Messina, Italy
| | - Paola Cardiano
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres, 31 98166, Messina, Italy
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Lundy J, Bondetti M, Lucquin A, Talbot HM, Murakami N, Nakayama S, Harada M, Suzuki M, Endo E, Stevens C, Crema ER, Craig OE, Shoda S. Culinary continuity in central Japan across the transition to agriculture. ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES 2024; 16:97. [PMID: 38854990 PMCID: PMC11156723 DOI: 10.1007/s12520-024-01992-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Rice and millet arrived in Western Japan from Korea around 3,000 years ago and spread eastwards across the archipelago in the next 700 years. However, the extent to which agriculture transformed traditional Jōmon hunter-gatherer-fisher communities is debated. Central Japan is a key area of study as remodelling of radiocarbon dates shows a slowdown in the dispersal rate of rice agriculture in this area. Here, we examine and compare the use of pottery by Final Jōmon and Early to Middle Yayoi communities in the Tōkai and the Central Highland regions of central Japan, using lipid residue analysis. Although the identification of specific biomarkers for rice remains elusive, an increase in the ratio of E/H C18 APAAs with the arrival of rice and millet indicates a potential change in plant processing and consumption. We were also able to identify biomarkers for broomcorn millet (miliacin) in both Final Jōmon and Yayoi pottery. However, evidence for millet consumption is sparse and in all cases was likely mixed with wild hunted and foraged foods. We conclude therefore that, despite the introduction of rice and millet agriculture in central Japan, pre-existing diets and culinary habits of Jōmon hunter-gatherers remain important. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12520-024-01992-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine Lundy
- Department of Archaeology, BioArCh, University of York, York, YO10 5ND UK
| | - Manon Bondetti
- Department of Archaeology, BioArCh, University of York, York, YO10 5ND UK
| | - Alexandre Lucquin
- Department of Archaeology, BioArCh, University of York, York, YO10 5ND UK
| | - Helen M. Talbot
- Department of Archaeology, BioArCh, University of York, York, YO10 5ND UK
| | - Natsuki Murakami
- Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Nara, 630-8577 Japan
| | - Seiji Nakayama
- Research Institute of Cultural Properties, Teikyo University, Yamanashi, 406-0032 Japan
| | - Motoki Harada
- Aichi Asahi Site Museum, Kiyosu, Aichi 452-0932 Japan
| | - Miho Suzuki
- Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Nara, 630-8577 Japan
| | - Eiko Endo
- Centre for Obsidian and Lithic Studies, Meiji University, Tokyo, 101-8301 Japan
| | - Chris Stevens
- McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3ER UK
| | - Enrico R. Crema
- McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3ER UK
- Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3DZ UK
| | - Oliver E. Craig
- Department of Archaeology, BioArCh, University of York, York, YO10 5ND UK
| | - Shinya Shoda
- Department of Archaeology, BioArCh, University of York, York, YO10 5ND UK
- Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Nara, 630-8577 Japan
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3
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Debels P, Drieu L, Chiquet P, Studer J, Malergue A, Martignac L, Champion L, Garnier A, Fichet V, Sall M, Regert M, Mayor A. Investigating grandmothers' cooking: A multidisciplinary approach to foodways on an archaeological dump in Lower Casamance, Senegal. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0295794. [PMID: 38809808 PMCID: PMC11135772 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Because they hold information about cultural identity, foodways have been the focus of a variety of disciplines in archaeology. However, each approach documents different stages of culinary preparation and is constrained by the preservation specificities of each type of artefact and ecofact. Difficulties in achieving an interdisciplinary approach may explain the scarcity of such studies. In this paper, we propose a methodology that combines archaeozoological, carpological and microbotanical analysis of ecofacts retrieved in the sediment, with use-alteration, organic residue and microbotanical analysis carried out on pottery vessels, recovered during the excavation of a XXth century archaeological dump site in Lower Casamance (Senegal). The results demonstrate the strength of this multiproxy approach in reconstructing past foodways by characterising the importance of aquatic, terrestrial animals and plant products in the Diola Kassa diet. In addition, this study questions the modalities of food transformation by assessing the preparation techniques of animal and vegetal products (cutting marks, heating processes etc.) and the function of pottery vessels (transport, storage, cooking etc.). Aquatic products and rice were a significant part of the diet of the users of the dump (from archaeozoology, carpology, phytoliths and organic residue analysis) and wet cooking (boiling?), salty and acidic foods seem to have been particularly prevalent (from use-alteration). The absence of specific animal and plant parts in the archaeological record, as well as some pottery function, is also questioned. Beyond gathering the results of each approach, this study focuses on the interweaving of different research methods to depict past foodscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Debels
- ARCAN Laboratory, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- UMR 8215 Trajectoires, CNRS, France
| | - Léa Drieu
- Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, CEPAM, Nice, France
| | - Patricia Chiquet
- ARCAN Laboratory, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Museum of Natural History of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Louis Champion
- UMR DIADE équipe Dynadiv, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, France
| | | | | | - Moustapha Sall
- Department of History, University Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Senegal
| | | | - Anne Mayor
- ARCAN Laboratory, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Global Studies Institute (GSI), University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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Taylor WTT, Belardi JB, Barberena R, Coltrain JB, Marina FC, Borrero LA, Conver JL, Hodgins G, Admiraal M, Craig OE, Lucquin A, Talbot HM, Lundy J, Liu X, Chauvey L, Schiavinato S, Seguin-Orlando A, Le Roux P, Lucas M, Orlando L, Roberts P, Jones EL. Interdisciplinary evidence for early domestic horse exploitation in southern Patagonia. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadk5201. [PMID: 38064558 PMCID: PMC10708174 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk5201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
The introduction of domestic horses transformed Indigenous societies across the grasslands of Argentina, leading to the emergence of specialized horse cultures across the Southern Cone. However, the dynamics of this introduction are poorly chronicled by historic records. Here, we apply archaeozoological and biomolecular techniques to horse remains from the site of Chorrillo Grande 1 in southern Argentina. Osteological and taphonomic analyses suggest that horses were pastorally managed and used for food by Aónikenk/Tehuelche hunter-gatherers before the onset of permanent European settlement, as early as the mid-17th century. DNA-based sex identifications suggest consumption of both male and female horses, while ceramic residue also shows use of guanaco products. Sequential isotope analyses on horse dentition reveal an origin in southern Patagonia and movement of these animals between the Río Coig and Río Gallegos basins. These results reinforce emerging evidence for rapid Indigenous-mediated dispersal of horses in the Americas and demonstrate that horses catalyzed rapid economic and social transformations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Juan Bautista Belardi
- Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral, Unidad Académica Río Gallegos (ICASUR), Laboratorio de Arqueología Dr. Luis A. Borrero, CONICET, Campus Universitario, Piloto Lero Rivera s/n (9400), Río Gallegos, Santa Cruz, Argentina
| | - Ramiro Barberena
- Centro de Investigación, Innovación y Creación, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Temuco, Chile
- CONICET, Instituto Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Padre Jorge Contreras 1300 (5500), Mendoza, Argentina
| | | | - Flavia Carballo Marina
- Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral, Unidad Académica Río Gallegos (ICASUR), Laboratorio de Arqueología Dr. Luis A. Borrero, CONICET, Campus Universitario, Piloto Lero Rivera s/n (9400), Río Gallegos, Santa Cruz, Argentina
| | - Luis Alberto Borrero
- CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Saavedra 15, Piso 5, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Joshua L. Conver
- Center for Digital Scholarship and Curation, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Gregory Hodgins
- AMS Laboratory/Department of Physics, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Jasmine Lundy
- Department of Archaeology, BioArCh, University of York, York, UK
| | - Xuexue Liu
- Centre for Anthropobiology and Genomics of Toulouse (CNRS UMR 5288), University Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Lorelei Chauvey
- Centre for Anthropobiology and Genomics of Toulouse (CNRS UMR 5288), University Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Stéphanie Schiavinato
- Centre for Anthropobiology and Genomics of Toulouse (CNRS UMR 5288), University Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Andaine Seguin-Orlando
- Centre for Anthropobiology and Genomics of Toulouse (CNRS UMR 5288), University Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Petrus Le Roux
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Mary Lucas
- Department of Archaeology, Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, Jena, Germany
- Arctic University Museum of Norway, UiT—The Arctic University of Norway, Lars Thørings veg 10, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Ludovic Orlando
- Centre for Anthropobiology and Genomics of Toulouse (CNRS UMR 5288), University Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Patrick Roberts
- Department of Archaeology, Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, Jena, Germany
- isoTROPIC Research Group, Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, Jena, Germany
| | - Emily Lena Jones
- Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
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Lucquin A, Robson HK, Oras E, Lundy J, Moretti G, González Carretero L, Dekker J, Demirci Ö, Dolbunova E, McLaughlin TR, Piezonka H, Talbot HM, Adamczak K, Czekaj-Zastawny A, Groß D, Gumiński W, Hartz S, Kabaciński J, Koivisto S, Linge TE, Meyer AK, Mökkönen T, Philippsen B, Piličiauskas G, Visocka V, Kriiska A, Raemaekers D, Meadows J, Heron C, Craig OE. The impact of farming on prehistoric culinary practices throughout Northern Europe. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2310138120. [PMID: 37844237 PMCID: PMC10614617 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2310138120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
To investigate changes in culinary practices associated with the arrival of farming, we analysed the organic residues of over 1,000 pottery vessels from hunter-gatherer-fisher and early agricultural sites across Northern Europe from the Lower Rhine Basin to the Northeastern Baltic. Here, pottery was widely used by hunter-gatherer-fishers prior to the introduction of domesticated animals and plants. Overall, there was surprising continuity in the way that hunter-gatherer-fishers and farmers used pottery. Both aquatic products and wild plants remained prevalent, a pattern repeated consistently across the study area. We argue that the rapid adaptation of farming communities to exploit coastal and lagoonal resources facilitated their northerly expansion, and in some cases, hunting, gathering, and fishing became the most dominant subsistence strategy. Nevertheless, dairy products frequently appear in pottery associated with the earliest farming groups often mixed with wild plants and fish. Interestingly, we also find compelling evidence of dairy products in hunter-gatherer-fisher Ertebølle pottery, which predates the arrival of domesticated animals. We propose that Ertebølle hunter-gatherer-fishers frequently acquired dairy products through exchange with adjacent farming communities prior to the transition. The continuity observed in pottery use across the transition to farming contrasts with the analysis of human remains which shows substantial demographic change through ancient DNA and, in some cases, a reduction in marine consumption through stable isotope analysis. We postulate that farmers acquired the knowledge and skills they needed to succeed from local hunter-gatherer-fishers but without substantial admixture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Lucquin
- BioArCh, Department of Archaeology, University of York, YorkYO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - Harry K. Robson
- BioArCh, Department of Archaeology, University of York, YorkYO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - Ester Oras
- Institute of History and Archaeology, Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Tartu50411, Estonia
- Swedish Collegium for Advanced Study, Uppsala752 38, Sweden
| | - Jasmine Lundy
- BioArCh, Department of Archaeology, University of York, YorkYO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Joannes Dekker
- BioArCh, Department of Archaeology, University of York, YorkYO10 5DD, United Kingdom
- Section for Geobiology, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen1350, Denmark
| | - Özge Demirci
- BioArCh, Department of Archaeology, University of York, YorkYO10 5DD, United Kingdom
- Groningen Institute of Archaeology, University of Groningen, Groningen9712, Netherlands
| | - Ekaterina Dolbunova
- The British Museum, LondonWC1B 3DG, United Kingdom
- Department of Archaeology of Eastern Europe and Siberia, State Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg190000, Russia
| | | | - Henny Piezonka
- Institute of Prehistoric Archaeology, Department of History and Cultural Studies, Free University, Berlin14195, Germany
| | - Helen M. Talbot
- BioArCh, Department of Archaeology, University of York, YorkYO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - Kamil Adamczak
- Institute of Archaeology, Faculty of History, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń87-100, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Czekaj-Zastawny
- Centre for Archaeology of Hills and Uplands, Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków00-927, Poland
| | - Daniel Groß
- Museum Lolland-Falster, Nykøbing F.4800, Denmark
| | - Witold Gumiński
- Faculty of Archaeology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw00-927, Poland
| | - Sönke Hartz
- Stiftung Schleswig-Holsteinische Landesmuseen, Schloss Gottorf, Schleswig24837, Germany
| | - Jacek Kabaciński
- Centre for Archaeology of Hills and Uplands, Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków00-927, Poland
| | - Satu Koivisto
- Department of Archaeology, University of Turku, TurkuFI-20014, Finland
| | - Trond Eilev Linge
- University Museum of Bergen, Section for Cultural Heritage Management, Bergen5007, Norway
| | - Ann-Katrin Meyer
- Institute of Prehistoric and Protohistoric Archaeology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg20146, Germany
| | - Teemu Mökkönen
- Cultural Environment Services, The Finnish Heritage Agency, Helsinki913, Finland
| | - Bente Philippsen
- NTNU University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, TrondheimNO-7491, Norway
| | | | - Vanda Visocka
- Department of History and Archaeology, Faculty of History and Philosophy, University of Latvia, Rīga1050, Latvia
| | - Aivar Kriiska
- Department of Archaeology, Institute of History and Archaeology, University of Tartu, Tartu50090, Estonia
| | - Daan Raemaekers
- Groningen Institute of Archaeology, University of Groningen, Groningen9712, Netherlands
| | - John Meadows
- Centre for Baltic and Scandinavian Archaeology, Schleswig24837, Germany
| | - Carl Heron
- The British Museum, LondonWC1B 3DG, United Kingdom
| | - Oliver E. Craig
- BioArCh, Department of Archaeology, University of York, YorkYO10 5DD, United Kingdom
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Admiraal M, Colonese AC, Milheira RG, da Rocha Bandeira D, Demathe A, Pereira Dos Santos AM, Fossile T, Talbot HM, Bondetti M, Lucquin A, Montalvo-Cabrera J, Prates L, Serna A, Craig OE. Chemical analysis of pottery reveals the transition from a maritime to a plant-based economy in pre-colonial coastal Brazil. Sci Rep 2023; 13:16771. [PMID: 37798303 PMCID: PMC10556129 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-42662-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding long-term dynamics of past socio-ecological systems is essential for their future management. The southern Atlantic Forest coast of Brazil with its biodiverse littoral zone and artisanal fishing communities, is a priority for conservation. Traditional maritime knowledge is thought to have a deep-history and indeed, marine exploitation can be traced back to the middle Holocene. As part of one of South America's largest diasporas, Guarani groups reached the southern Brazilian coast at around 1000 years ago. Their impact on the long-standing coastal economy is unknown, due to poor preservation of organic remains. Through the first organic residue study on Guarani pottery, we show that maize rather than aquatic foods was the most dominant product in pottery at this time. By developing a mixing model based on carbon isotope values of saturated and mono-unsaturated fatty acids we propose new criteria for the identification of maize, opening up avenues for future research. Our data confirms the importance of maize to the pre-colonial Guarani, even in a highly productive coastal environment. The Guarani occupation of this region marks a significant departure from previous socio-economic systems, potentially leading to loss of traditional knowledge and alleviating anthropogenic pressure, albeit temporarily, on the marine environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjolein Admiraal
- Department of Archaeology, BioArCh, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
| | - Andre C Colonese
- Department of Prehistory and Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Rafael G Milheira
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, Federal University of Pelotas, Coronel Alberto Rosa 154, Pelotas, RS, 96010-160, Brazil
| | - Dione da Rocha Bandeira
- Programa em Patrimônio Cultural e Sociedade, Universidade da Região de Joinville, Paulo Malschitzki, 10, Zona Industrial Norte, Joinville, SC, 89219-710, Brazil
- Museu Arqueológico de Sambaqui de Joinville, Dona Francisca, 600, Joinville, 89201-220, Brazil
| | - Alexandro Demathe
- Sapienza Arqueologia e Gestão do Patrimônio Arqueológico, Wenceslau Alves dos Santos, 1002, Tubarão, SC, 88704-208, Brazil
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Educação Patrimonial e Arqueologia (GRUPEP), Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Av. José Acácio Moreira, 787, Tubarão, SC, 88704-900, Brazil
| | | | - Thiago Fossile
- Department of Prehistory and Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Helen M Talbot
- Department of Archaeology, BioArCh, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Manon Bondetti
- Department of Archaeology, BioArCh, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Alexandre Lucquin
- Department of Archaeology, BioArCh, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | | | - Luciano Prates
- División Arqueología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, 1900, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Alejandro Serna
- Department of Archaeology, BioArCh, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
- División Arqueología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, 1900, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Oliver E Craig
- Department of Archaeology, BioArCh, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
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7
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Lundy J, Drieu L, Orecchioni P, Meo A, Aniceti V, Fiorentino G, Primavera M, Talbot H, Molinari A, Carver MOH, Craig OE. Cuisine in transition? Organic residue analysis of domestic containers from 9th-14th century Sicily. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:221305. [PMID: 36908986 PMCID: PMC9993051 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.221305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
From the 9th to 14th centuries AD, Sicily experienced a series of rapid and quite radical changes in political regime, but the impact of these regime changes on the lives of the people that experienced them remains largely elusive within the historical narrative. We use a multi-faceted lipid residue approach to give direct chemical evidence of the use of 248 everyday domestic ceramic containers from Islamic and post-Islamic contexts in western Sicily to aid our understanding of daily habits throughout this period of political change. A range of commodities was successfully identified, including animal fats, vegetable products, fruit products (potentially including wine) and plant resins. The study highlights the complexity of residues in early medieval Mediterranean society as, in many cases, mixtures of commodities were observed reflecting sequential cooking events and/or the complex mixtures reflective of medieval recipes. However, overall, there were no clear changes in the composition of the residues following the imposition of Norman control over the island and through subsequent periods, despite some differences between urban centres and rural sites. Thus, lending to the idea that post-Islamic populations largely flourished and benefited from the agricultural systems, resources and recipes left by their predecessors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine Lundy
- Department of Archaeology, BioArCh, University of York, York YO10 5ND, UK
| | - Lea Drieu
- Department of Archaeology, BioArCh, University of York, York YO10 5ND, UK
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, CEPAM, Nice UMR 7264, France
| | - Paola Orecchioni
- Dipartimento di Storia, Patrimonio Culturale, Formazione e Società, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Rome 00133, Italy
| | - Antonino Meo
- Dipartimento di Storia, Patrimonio Culturale, Formazione e Società, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Rome 00133, Italy
| | - Veronica Aniceti
- ’Antonino Sallinas’, Regional Archaeological Museum of Palermo, Palermo 90133, Italy
- Department of Natural History, University Museum of Bergen, Bergen 5007, Norway
| | - Girolamo Fiorentino
- Laboratory of Archaeobotany and Palaeoecology, Università del Salento, Lecce 73100, Italy
| | - Milena Primavera
- Laboratory of Archaeobotany and Palaeoecology, Università del Salento, Lecce 73100, Italy
| | - Helen Talbot
- Department of Archaeology, BioArCh, University of York, York YO10 5ND, UK
| | - Alessandra Molinari
- Dipartimento di Storia, Patrimonio Culturale, Formazione e Società, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Rome 00133, Italy
| | | | - Oliver E. Craig
- Department of Archaeology, BioArCh, University of York, York YO10 5ND, UK
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The transmission of pottery technology among prehistoric European hunter-gatherers. Nat Hum Behav 2023; 7:171-183. [PMID: 36550220 PMCID: PMC9957732 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-022-01491-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Human history has been shaped by global dispersals of technologies, although understanding of what enabled these processes is limited. Here, we explore the behavioural mechanisms that led to the emergence of pottery among hunter-gatherer communities in Europe during the mid-Holocene. Through radiocarbon dating, we propose this dispersal occurred at a far faster rate than previously thought. Chemical characterization of organic residues shows that European hunter-gatherer pottery had a function structured around regional culinary practices rather than environmental factors. Analysis of the forms, decoration and technological choices suggests that knowledge of pottery spread through a process of cultural transmission. We demonstrate a correlation between the physical properties of pots and how they were used, reflecting social traditions inherited by successive generations of hunter-gatherers. Taken together the evidence supports kinship-driven, super-regional communication networks that existed long before other major innovations such as agriculture, writing, urbanism or metallurgy.
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Briggs L, Cooper J, Craig OE, Heron C, Lucquin A, Milantchi MMM, Samson A. Molecular evidence for new foodways in the early colonial Caribbean: organic residue analysis at Isla de Mona, Puerto Rico. ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES 2023; 15:70. [PMID: 37151408 PMCID: PMC10154268 DOI: 10.1007/s12520-023-01771-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Ceramic objects account for over 90% of the cultural material recovered from archaeological sites in the Caribbean. However, little research has been conducted on molecular evidence for past food production from these same vessels. Forty ceramic sherds from Isla de Mona have been analysed by GC-MS and GC-C-IRMS in order to address questions surrounding foodways in the Greater Antilles prior to and post European arrival. We evaluate evidence for dietary changes to illuminate aspects of cultural exchange between Indigenous populations and the first generations of Spanish colonists. Here, we show that plant residues are found in a variety of pottery forms, with some evidence for non-ruminant and ruminant fats. The dearth of marine biomarkers is curious given the volume of fish bones found in archaeological contexts on Isla de Mona and may offer evidence for spit-roasting, pit-roasting, or the use of a 'barbacoa' to cook fish on the island. The ubiquity of plant residues in a variety of pottery forms may relate to the large-scale cultivation and export of cassava (Manihot esculenta) from the island. A Spanish olive jar revealed evidence of wine residues, which may constitute the earliest detection of wine residues in pottery found in the Americas. Supplementary information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12520-023-01771-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Briggs
- Cranfield Forensic Institute, Cranfield University, College Rd, Cranfield, Wharley End, Bedford, MK43 0AL UK
| | - Jago Cooper
- Sainsbury Centre, University of East Anglia, Norfolk Rd, Norwich, NR4 7TJ UK
| | - Oliver E. Craig
- BioArCH, University of York, Environment Building, Wentworth Way, Heslington, YO10 5NG York UK
| | - Carl Heron
- Scientific Research Department, The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3DG UK
| | - Alexandre Lucquin
- BioArCH, University of York, Environment Building, Wentworth Way, Heslington, YO10 5NG York UK
| | | | - Alice Samson
- University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH UK
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Manoukian N, Whelton HL, Dunne J, Badalyan R, Smith AT, Simonyan H, Rothman MS, Bobokhyan A, Hovsepyan R, Avetisyan P, Evershed RP, Pollard AM. Diverse dietary practices across the Early Bronze Age 'Kura-Araxes culture' in the South Caucasus. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0278345. [PMID: 36542561 PMCID: PMC9770345 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The Kura-Araxes (KA) cultural phenomenon (dated to the Early Bronze Age, c. 3500/3350-2500 BCE) is primarily characterised by the emergence of a homogeneous pottery style and a uniform 'material culture package' in settlements across the South Caucasus, as well as territories extending to the Ancient Near East and the Levant. It has been argued that KA societies practised pastoralism, despite a lack of direct examination of dietary and culinary practices in this region. Here, we report the first analyses of absorbed lipid residues from KA pottery to both determine the organic products produced and consumed and to reconstruct subsistence practices. Our results provide compelling evidence for a diversified diet across KA settlements in Armenia, comprising a mixed economy of meat and plant processing, aquatic fats and dairying. The preservation of diagnostic plant lipid biomarkers, notably long-chain fatty acids (C20 to C28) and n-alkanes (C23 to C33) has enabled the identification of the earliest processing of plants in pottery of the region. These findings suggest that KA settlements were agropastoral exploiting local resources. Results demonstrate the significance of applying biomolecular methods for examining dietary inferences in the South Caucasus region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nyree Manoukian
- Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Helen L. Whelton
- Organic Geochemistry Unit, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Julie Dunne
- Organic Geochemistry Unit, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Ruben Badalyan
- Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, National Academy of Sciences, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Adam T. Smith
- Department of Anthropology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Hakob Simonyan
- Scientific Research Center of the Historical and Cultural Heritage, Ministry of Culture, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Mitchell S. Rothman
- Department of Anthropology, Widener University, Chester, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Arsen Bobokhyan
- Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, National Academy of Sciences, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Roman Hovsepyan
- Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, National Academy of Sciences, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Pavel Avetisyan
- Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, National Academy of Sciences, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Richard P. Evershed
- Organic Geochemistry Unit, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - A. Mark Pollard
- Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Dating the emergence of dairying by the first farmers of Central Europe using 14C analysis of fatty acids preserved in pottery vessels. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2109325118. [PMID: 36252027 PMCID: PMC9618069 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2109325118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Calendrical dating for the introduction of new food commodities affords enhanced understanding of major changes in human food procurement. Here, direct dating of milk residues from the Early Neolithic in Central Europe demonstrates the use of this unique secondary product from animals arrived with the earliest Linearbandkeramik settlers in the western (France, the Netherlands, and northwestern Germany) and eastern (Poland) extensions of the cultural group. At a time when most adult humans lacked the lactase-persistence gene variant, the adoption and intensification of a dairy-based economy would have had significant impact on human diet, evolution, and environment. Direct, accurate, and precise dating of archaeological pottery vessels is now achievable using a recently developed approach based on the radiocarbon dating of purified molecular components of food residues preserved in the walls of pottery vessels. The method targets fatty acids from animal fat residues, making it uniquely suited for directly dating the inception of new food commodities in prehistoric populations. Here, we report a large-scale application of the method by directly dating the introduction of dairying into Central Europe by the Linearbandkeramik (LBK) cultural group based on dairy fat residues. The radiocarbon dates (n = 27) from the 54th century BC from the western and eastern expansion of the LBK suggest dairy exploitation arrived with the first settlers in the respective regions and were not gradually adopted later. This is particularly significant, as contemporaneous LBK sites showed an uneven distribution of dairy exploitation. Significantly, our findings demonstrate the power of directly dating the introduction of new food commodities, hence removing taphonomic uncertainties when assessing this indirectly based on associated cultural materials or other remains.
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Irto A, Micalizzi G, Bretti C, Chiaia V, Mondello L, Cardiano P. Lipids in Archaeological Pottery: A Review on Their Sampling and Extraction Techniques. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27113451. [PMID: 35684389 PMCID: PMC9182108 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27113451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Several studies have been performed so far for the effective recovery, detection and quantification of specific compounds and their degradation products in archaeological materials. According to the literature, lipid molecules are the most durable and widespread biomarkers in ancient pottery. Artificial ageing studies to simulate lipid alterations over time have been reported. In this review, specific lipid archaeological biomarkers and well-established sampling and extraction methodologies are discussed. Although suitable analytical techniques have unraveled archaeological questions, some issues remain open such as the need to introduce innovative and miniaturized protocols to avoid extractions with organic solvents, which are often laborious and non-environmentally friendly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Irto
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy; (C.B.); (V.C.); (L.M.); (P.C.)
- Correspondence: (A.I.); (G.M.)
| | - Giuseppe Micalizzi
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy; (C.B.); (V.C.); (L.M.); (P.C.)
- Correspondence: (A.I.); (G.M.)
| | - Clemente Bretti
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy; (C.B.); (V.C.); (L.M.); (P.C.)
| | - Valentina Chiaia
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy; (C.B.); (V.C.); (L.M.); (P.C.)
| | - Luigi Mondello
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy; (C.B.); (V.C.); (L.M.); (P.C.)
- Chromaleont s.r.l., c/o Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy
- Unit of Food Science and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Cardiano
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy; (C.B.); (V.C.); (L.M.); (P.C.)
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Use of Thermally Assisted Hydrolysis and Methylation (THM-GC-MS) to Unravel Influence of Pottery Production and Post-Depositional Processes on the Molecular Composition of Organic Matter in Sherds from a Complex Coastal Settlement. SEPARATIONS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/separations8090140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Ceramic fragments from the Islet of Guidoiro Areoso (NW Spain), covering a wide range of cultural periods (Neolithic to Late Bronze Age), have been studied by color analysis, elemental analysis of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), and molecular analysis (thermally assisted hydrolysis and methylation, THM-GC-MS), in order to identify the organic matter (OM) in the prehistoric pottery and reveal information on ceramic production techniques, food remains and post-depositional effects. Results showed that the strong marine influence (sherds recovered from coastal deposits) and microbial activity (recovery from waste deposits, “cuncheiros”) had a profound effect on C/N ratio and molecular composition (N-rich protein and chitin structures). Other organic ingredients originated from the material used for creating the ware (detected as pyrogenic OM) and possibly food remains (fatty acid fingerprints). Dark-colored ware was enriched in both pyrogenic OM from incomplete combustion and non-bacterial fatty acids. Fatty acid patterns could not be related to possible vessel use, and markers of aquatic resources were scarce, or absent. It is argued that THM-GC-MS of pottery fragments is useful for understanding how an archaeological deposit developed in time, what kinds of OM are present, and possibly to make a pre-selection of samples with high potential for more cost-demanding dietary molecular assessments.
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Bondetti M, González Carretero L, Dolbunova E, McGrath K, Presslee S, Lucquin A, Tsybriy V, Mazurkevich A, Tsybriy A, Jordan P, Heron C, Meadows J, Craig OE. Neolithic farmers or Neolithic foragers? Organic residue analysis of early pottery from Rakushechny Yar on the Lower Don (Russia). ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES 2021; 13:141. [PMID: 34777611 PMCID: PMC8550616 DOI: 10.1007/s12520-021-01412-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The emergence of pottery in Europe is associated with two distinct traditions: hunter-gatherers in the east of the continent during the early 6th millennium BC and early agricultural communities in the south-west in the late 7th millennium BC. Here we investigate the function of pottery from the site of Rakushechny Yar, located at the Southern fringe of Eastern Europe, in this putative contact zone between these two economic 'worlds'. To investigate, organic residue analysis was conducted on 120 samples from the Early Neolithic phase (ca. mid-6th millennium BC) along with microscopic and SEM analysis of associated foodcrusts. The results showed that the earliest phase of pottery use was predominantly used to process riverine resources. Many of the vessels have molecular and isotopic characteristics consistent with migratory fish, such as sturgeon, confirmed by the identification of sturgeon bony structures embedded in the charred surface deposits. There was no evidence of dairy products in any of the vessels, despite the fact these have been routinely identified in coeval sites to the south. Further analysis of some of the mammalian bones using ZooMS failed to demonstrate that domesticated animals were present in the Early Neolithic. Nevertheless, we argue that intensive exploitation of seasonally migratory fish, accompanied by large-scale pottery production, created storable surpluses that led to similar socio-economic outcomes as documented in early agricultural societies. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12520-021-01412-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon Bondetti
- BioArCh, University of York, Environment Building, Wentworth Way Heslington, York, YO10 5DD UK
- Arctic Centre and Groningen Institute of Archaeology (GIA), University of Groningen, Aweg 30, 9718CW Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Ekaterina Dolbunova
- Department of Scientific Research, The British Museum, London, WC1B 3DG UK
- Department of Archaeology of Eastern Europe and Siberia, The State Hermitage Museum, 34 Dvortsovaya Embankment, Saint Petersburg, 190000 Russian Federation
| | - Krista McGrath
- ICTA, Universitate Autonoma de Barcelona, UAB 08193 Bellaterra (Cerdanyola), Building Z Campus, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sam Presslee
- BioArCh, University of York, Environment Building, Wentworth Way Heslington, York, YO10 5DD UK
| | - Alexandre Lucquin
- BioArCh, University of York, Environment Building, Wentworth Way Heslington, York, YO10 5DD UK
| | - Viktor Tsybriy
- Don Archaeological Society, 95A M Gorkogo, Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation
| | - Andrey Mazurkevich
- Department of Archaeology of Eastern Europe and Siberia, The State Hermitage Museum, 34 Dvortsovaya Embankment, Saint Petersburg, 190000 Russian Federation
| | - Andrey Tsybriy
- Don Archaeological Society, 95A M Gorkogo, Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation
| | - Peter Jordan
- Department of Archaeology and Ancient History, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Carl Heron
- Department of Scientific Research, The British Museum, London, WC1B 3DG UK
| | - John Meadows
- Centre for Baltic and Scandinavian Archaeology (ZBSA), SchlossGottorf, Schleswig-Holstein State Museums Foundation, Schlossinsel 1, 24837 Schleswig, Germany
| | - Oliver E. Craig
- BioArCh, University of York, Environment Building, Wentworth Way Heslington, York, YO10 5DD UK
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