Tina Bisulca | University of Arizona (original) (raw)

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Papers by Tina Bisulca

KIVA: Journal of Southwestern Anthropology and History, 2024

Stone palettes are a unique artifact of Hohokam culture. Discovery of lead minerals on these pale... more Stone palettes are a unique artifact of Hohokam culture. Discovery of lead minerals on these palettes dates back to the 1930s, however there has been little chemical analysis of these minerals. This research presents the result of a multi-analytical survey on the accretions of nearly 200 palettes to develop a better understanding of occurrence of lead minerals and isotopic characterization to address questions of sourcing, procurement and mineral exchange. We found consistent association of lead minerals regardless of context, region, and time period, suggesting lead minerals are related to a primary use of palettes. We also propose an alternate theory to one potential function of palettes – that they were used to prepare paint applied to the body or other materials that did not survive in the archaeological record. We propose that the lead silicate identified on some palettes is not intentionally formed, but rather due to post depositional processes.

This article discusses a fragment of a rare, wooden slab-style Egyptian senet board that was give... more This article discusses a fragment of a rare, wooden slab-style Egyptian senet board that was given to the Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona (Tucson, Arizona) in 1922 by Lily S. Place, an American who lived in Cairo in the 1910s and 1920s and purchased ancient Egyptian objects from dealers and in the bazaars; it has no ancient provenience. Using a multi-disciplinary approach, the authors provide a reading and interpretation of the incised hieroglyphs, establish a radiocarbon date for the game board from 980 to 838 B.C.E., identify the wood as Abies (fir), probably Abies cilicica, demonstrate that the board was fashioned from freshly-cut wood, and identify the inlay substance as a green copper-wax pigment.

MRS Proceedings, 2007

The 17th c. Flemish painting on panel, The Armorer's Shop, has long been attributed to David ... more The 17th c. Flemish painting on panel, The Armorer's Shop, has long been attributed to David Teniers the Younger (1610-1690). The painting depicts an opulent pile of parade armor at the bottom left foreground, a seated armorer at the bottom right foreground, and a forge surrounded by workers in the middle ground. The Teniers attribution is derived from his signature at the bottom right as well as figural groups and other visual elements that are commonly associated with him and executed in his style. During dendrochronological examination of the painting, a portion of the oak plank comprising the overall structure was found to have been carved out so that a smaller plank (containing the parade armor) could be inserted into the resulting depression. This unusual construction, combined with the identification of several paintings by Jan Brueghel the Younger (1601-1678) depicting the same parade armor, raised questions about the attribution and chronology of construction of the pai...

University of Bamberg Press eBooks, 2022

Journal of Natural Products

The class of plant exudates that contain the phenol functionality, termed phenolics, is defined, ... more The class of plant exudates that contain the phenol functionality, termed phenolics, is defined, surveyed, and characterized by solid-state 13C NMR spectroscopy and by solution-state 1H NMR spectroscopy. Materials in this group are identified by the phenolic 13C resonance (from the ipso carbon of ArOH) at δ 145-160 (δ 160-167 for ArOR). The resonance patterns define several subclasses based on the collective similarity of their 13C spectra, specifically, aloetics from the genus Aloe, guaiacs from the genus Guaiacum and other eurosid and conifer genera, xanthics from the genus Garcinia, and kinos from the genus Eucalyptus and many other genera. Phenolic exudates often are mixed with terpenoid materials (the building block of exudates known as resins) and carbohydrates (the building block of exudates known as gums) to form hybrid subgroups such as guaiac gums, guaiac resins, and kino resins. There are numerous phenolic exudates not affiliated with any of these groups, both as pure phenolics and as hybrids (phenolic resins, phenolic gum resins, and phenolic waxes).

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2017

The Arizona State Museum has more than 30,000 archaeological perishable artifacts. A large scale ... more The Arizona State Museum has more than 30,000 archaeological perishable artifacts. A large scale inventory of this collection led to an analytical survey to identify the indigenous adhesives that are present in these objects. Adhesive samples from 64 objects that covered 31 different archaeological sites and encompassed every major cultural tradition in Arizona were analyzed with attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spec-troscopy (ATR-FTIR). The study found that Pinaceae exudates and insect lac were the primary adhesive materials. Insect lac was the predominant adhesive used by the Hohokam, and both pine resin and insect lac were found in artifacts from the Mogollon and Ancestral Pueblo. Because insect lac is produced by insects (Tachardiella spp.) endemic to the desert lowlands, this indicates exchange of insect lac throughout the cultural regions of Arizona. This study illustrates the value of addressing a collection as a whole to increase understanding of prehistoric material culture and fabrication technology.

Bulletin of the Detroit Institute of Arts, 2021

Studies in Conservation, 2008

ABSTRACT

This article discusses a fragment of a rare, wooden slab-style Egyptian senet board that was give... more This article discusses a fragment of a rare,
wooden slab-style Egyptian senet board that was given to
the Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona (Tucson,
Arizona) in 1922 by Lily S. Place, an American who lived in
Cairo in the 1910s and 1920s and purchased ancient Egyptian objects from dealers and in the bazaars; it has no ancient provenience. Using a multi-disciplinary approach,
the authors provide a reading and interpretation of the
incised hieroglyphs, establish a radiocarbon date for the
game board from 980 to 838 B.C.E., identify the wood as
Abies (fir), probably Abies cilicica, demonstrate that the
board was fashioned from freshly-cut wood, and identify
the inlay substance as a green copper-wax pigment.

Objects Specialty Group Postprints, 2018

The peoples of the Southwest used a variety of organic adhesives including pine resin and insect... more The peoples of the Southwest used a variety of organic adhesives including pine resin and insect lac (shellac). A survey at the Arizona State Museum characterized over 100 artifacts with resinous materials or residues using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Less expensive and more accessible methods—UV-induced visible uorescence and microchemical testing— were also used for characterization and their accuracy was compared to Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results. For pine resin, the Raspail test was used; for insect lac, a new microchemical test was developed based on the pH sensitivity of anthraquinone dyes present in insect lac exudates. Results show that microchemical tests are generally reliable even with archaeological materials. is is important as archaeological artifacts are aged and adhesives are often contaminated with burial accretions. By systematically evaluating these tests, further insights were gained. Most importantly, the Raspail test was found to indicate any terpenoid exudate and is not specic to pine resin. These results show that although microchemical tests continue to be useful, care should be taken when interpreting results.

Fossil resins recovered from deposits around the world are each chemically and physically distinc... more Fossil resins recovered from deposits around the world are each chemically and physically distinct, reflecting their disparate botanical origins. The older Mesozoic resins are invariably produced by conifers (Gymnospermae), while many of the Cenozoic resins derive primarily from two distinct families of flowering plants (Angiospermae: Dipterocarpaceae and Leguminosae). Amber is a natural polymer, and it becomes harder (often also more friable) over millions of years (Nascimbene et al, 2010). It beautifully preserves fossil organisms (arthropods, botanicals, even occasional vertebrates) in subcellular detail, making these fossils of exceptional scientific value, since they can be meticulously compared to living species. When removed from anoxic sediments, however, all ambers, regardless of age or botanical affinity, react to exposure from light, heat and fluctuating humidity by darkening, crazing, and eventually cracking or disintegrating (Bisulca et al, 2012). Such deterioration thr...

American Museum Novitates, Feb 23, 2012

The deterioration of fossil resins (crazing, cracking, and darkening) was investigated by compari... more The deterioration of fossil resins (crazing, cracking, and darkening) was investigated by comparing the effects of one year of accelerated aging—specifically intensive exposure to light, heat, and fluctuating humidity, both individually and in combination—on samples from several natural resin deposits. These included two Cretaceous ambers (from Myanmar [Burma] and central New Jersey), two Tertiary ambers (from the Baltic and the Dominican Republic), and Holocene copal from Zanzibar. The five resins were chosen for their disparate ages and botanical origins (and thus chemical and physical properties), as well as their paleontological significance. In all cases, pronounced deterioration occurred under combined exposure to light and fluctuating humidity, based on surface crazing and a decrease in absorbance of light in the UV region (360–400 nm). While crazing did not visibly occur in cases of fluctuating humidity in dark conditions, or UV exposure alone, spectrophotometric evidence indicates that some deterioration did take place. Yellowing after exposure to elevated temperatures occurred in all samples tested, with the exception of Burmese amber. All four true ambers exhibited a decrease in UV absorbance after exposure to heat (while copal actually showed an increase). The samples from the five deposits represent three chemical subclasses of fossil resins, and each of the resins reacted differently to the various aging conditions, with New Jersey amber particularly unstable. Based on these results, amber collections should be stored in an environment with stable humidity, relatively low heat, and minimal exposure to light. Anoxic sealing and storage, and particularly embedding amber samples in a high-grade epoxy, may be beneficial, and further investigation is indicated.

At the Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo, a pilot study was undertaken to assess tet... more At the Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo, a pilot study was undertaken to assess tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) based consolidants as a potential stabilizing material for alum treated wood. Preliminary results indicate that TEOS treatment can reduce friability and in certain applications results in a marked increase in strength. It is able to evenly penetrate remaining wood structures, but does not infill pores within wood cells. In this study alum removal was possible even after TEOS consolidation. This is a significant advantage because it indicates that TEOS consolidation may not interfere with future retreatment of these artifacts.

Hawaiian barkcloth (‘kapa’) is a traditional fabric made from beaten plant fibers. Because of its... more Hawaiian barkcloth (‘kapa’) is a traditional fabric made from beaten plant fibers. Because of its function in both utilitarian and chiefly ornaments, kapa is intimately tied to the history and traditions of Hawai’i. In the 19th century kapa was gradually replaced with imported textiles and the practice was lost. The traditional methods used to manufacture kapa are now only known from historic descriptions by early missionaries and explorers. Since the 1970s, cultural practitioners began an effort to revive this artform and are experimenting with materials and techniques to reproduce kapa with the quality of historic artifacts.
Research has been undertaken at the Bishop Museum using a multi-analytical approach to determine the colorants. The Bishop Museum holds the world’s best collection of kapa, including some of the earliest pieces collected from Cook’s voyage in the 18th century. The research has focused on a comprehensive survey of over 150 pieces of kapa with x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF). In some cases, samples were removed and analyzed with UV-Vis-NIR fiber optics reflectance spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and chromatographic techniques, including high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Scientific results document the use of traditional pigments and dyes as well as the incorporation of imported materials in the 19th century. Results are interpreted by period, design and use, as well as within the context of historic descriptions. An important aspect of this work is close collaboration with cultural practitioners experienced fabrication methods that have been successful in the recreation of kapa. With continued research, the goal is to ultimately gain a greater knowledge of historic materials and techniques for the continuation of this important tradition.

KIVA: Journal of Southwestern Anthropology and History, 2024

MRS Proceedings, 2007

University of Bamberg Press eBooks, 2022

Journal of Natural Products

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2017

Bulletin of the Detroit Institute of Arts, 2021

Studies in Conservation, 2008

ABSTRACT

This article discusses a fragment of a rare, wooden slab-style Egyptian senet board that was give... more This article discusses a fragment of a rare,
wooden slab-style Egyptian senet board that was given to
the Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona (Tucson,
Arizona) in 1922 by Lily S. Place, an American who lived in
Cairo in the 1910s and 1920s and purchased ancient Egyptian objects from dealers and in the bazaars; it has no ancient provenience. Using a multi-disciplinary approach,
the authors provide a reading and interpretation of the
incised hieroglyphs, establish a radiocarbon date for the
game board from 980 to 838 B.C.E., identify the wood as
Abies (fir), probably Abies cilicica, demonstrate that the
board was fashioned from freshly-cut wood, and identify
the inlay substance as a green copper-wax pigment.

Objects Specialty Group Postprints, 2018

American Museum Novitates, Feb 23, 2012

5th Tri-National Sonoran Desert Symposium, Ajo, Arizona, March 5-8 2018, Sonoran Desert Alliance

Many scale insects from around the world produce red dyes that historically have had great econom... more Many scale insects from around the world produce red dyes that historically have had great economic importance, which continues today as they are natural, light stable and non-toxic. There are several species of lac scales endemic to the Sonoran Desert. These species (Tachardiella genus) are in the same family (Keriidae) as the lac scales of Asia used in the commercial production of lac dye. These insects host on a specific plants and produce a polyester exudate that encases the female insects and eggs. The exudate (shellac) has been used since ancient times by cultures of the Southwest as an adhesive and sealant. There is no historical evidence of the use of the dye, which is present within the insects and eggs. The dyes from four Tachardiella spp. of the Southwest were extracted and analyzed with liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LCMS) at Smithsonian Institution. The dyes were determined to be laccaic acids, very similar in chemistry to lac dye.

Conservators from the Preservation Division of the Arizona State Museum are currently researching... more Conservators from the Preservation Division of the Arizona State Museum are currently researching the use of insect exudates in its archaeological and ethnographic collections. The survey of entire collections assessing materials and technology with focus led to discoveries about the collection, including findings of continuity between ancient and modern cultures. This poster will focus on the host plants, their distribution and associated lac producing insects found in the deserts of the American Southwest. Examples of the application of this material by ancient and modern peoples in the manufacture of a variety of artifact types will be described. Summary: Resinous materials on 150 artifacts were analyzed using Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to identify insect lac. Out of these artifacts, 44% contained insect lac. The museum catalog records incorrectly identified most of the resinous material on these objects as plant resins. From this study of collections, we discovered similarities in the use of lac between historic and ancient cultures in the Southwest. Further studies of the ethnographic collections will continue to build on this research.

There have been only a handful of scientific analyses to determine the colorants used in Polynes... more There have been only a handful of scientific analyses to determine
the colorants used in Polynesian barkcloth. Hawaiian barkcloth
(kapa) is unique in the Pacific due to its broad range of colorants
derived primarily from native plant sources. After western contact,
kapa was gradually replaced by imported textiles and the practice
waned during the 19th century. Today, most of the materials and
methods known about traditional kapa manufacture are from
historic descriptions by early missionaries and explorers. Modern
methods of analysis can now provide more definitive data on these
ancient practices. The Bishop Museum has initiated an
investigation into the identification of the dyes, resins and
pigments in kapa. The Bishop Museum holds the fullest collection
of kapa, including some of the earliest pieces collected from
Cooks voyage in the 18th century. Analyses are primarily focused
on determining the dye sources using high performance liquid
chromatography (HPLC), which can identify dyes with exceedingly
small samples. HPLC results to date show that traditional dyes are
primarily extracts from noni (Morinda citrifolia) or turmeric
(Curcuma longa), confirming some early historical accounts. This
study also explores how imported materials are incorporated into
kapa in post contact Hawaii.

Precious few remains exist of the Clovis Paleoindians, and the Naco mammoth and associated spear... more Precious few remains exist of the Clovis Paleoindians, and the
Naco mammoth and associated spear points are considered one of the most important specimens that demonstrate Paleoindian hunting in the world. The bone and mount were highly unstable, and materials used in the 1952 preparation had deteriorated. Consequently, the Naco mammoth has not been on exhibit for over 20 years. Conservation re-treatment was devised considering the historic and scientific significance of this specimen. Treatment relied heavily upon analysis of the skeletal material to understand the reasons for its extreme fragility, which reflect both its depositional history as well as effects from materials used in the original preparation.

The fluid-preserved Herpetology Collection at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) histo... more The fluid-preserved Herpetology Collection at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) historically used metal tags to act as catalog- number labels for specimens. These tags often showed some form of corrosion, sometimes severe, and are being replaced with paper labels as part of a three-year project co-funded by the National Science Foundation.
Corrosion of tags can result in the loss of specimen information crucial to scientific research and can deposit on and potentially damage specimen tissue. This project focused on (1) identifying the metals used historically as labels, and (2) more fully characterizing cases of common and severe corrosion that resulted in loss of the specimen label and specimen damage.

Heat has long been used in conservation for the artificial aging of materials, but now it is also... more Heat has long been used in conservation for the artificial aging of materials, but now it is also being used as a pest eradication treatment. The heat chamber heats objects to a temperature where insects cannot sustain life (~54-60°C) at a chosen, set relative humidity (RH). The chamber is being marketed to museums as a less time-consuming pest eradication treatment because the process can be completed in approximately 16 hours, as opposed to days or weeks needed for freezing or carbon dioxide treatments.
Museum objects are often complex composites with adhesives, coatings, or natural oils and resins within the materials themselves. Many of these materials have low melting or glass transition (Tg) points, or are prone to thermally induced dimensional or chemical changes. Mechanical properties of certain materials are dependent on RH: of particular concern is Tg, which decreases with increasing RH for many polymers. The migration of waxes and distortion of some objects after treatment in the heating chamber has already been observed. Due to such unknowns, it was deemed important to identify potential problems that can arise from heat treatment.
To assess the potential effects of the heat treatment, samples of 21 common adhesives, resins, and waxes were tested. For each material, four separate samples preparations were assessed using the material as an adhesive on wood and glass joints, as a film on filter paper, and as a film on glass. These samples were weighed, measured, and photographed prior to and after treatment. Glass film sample preparations were additionally analyzed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to assess any chemical change before and after aging. Due to the probability of an object passing through this eradication process several times within its life, cumulative effects were also recorded from a series of five test runs, recording the core and ambient temperature and RH within the chamber.
Results show that certain classes of materials were susceptible to specific types of deterioration from heat treatment. Even with fresh materials, the epoxies yellowed and the hide glues and natural resins were prone to yellowing, crazing, slippage in joints, and/or weight loss. Many waxes and some synthetic adhesives melted or slumped during heat treatment. Several natural resins and oils showed chemical change (oxidation, loss of water) based on FTIR results. With further testing on other materials (horn, skin/leather, bone, etc.), we should be able to make informed decisions about which materials can be treated safely using heat for pest eradication.

The 86th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, 2021

The peoples of the Southwest have long used various plant and insect exudates as an adhesive, put... more The peoples of the Southwest have long used various plant and insect exudates as an adhesive, putty, coating and paint binder. These materials include pinyon pine resin, mesquite gum, and insect lac (shellac). The conservation laboratory at the Arizona State Museum completed a survey of these materials in collections using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). In this comprehensive study, over 150 artifacts were analyzed in ASM collections which span from the archaic to historic periods. Results document the earliest known uses of these materials and their continued use and trade through time. Results also demonstrate selective use based on their chemical and materials properties (solubility, hardness, melting point, etc.). This study discusses these new findings in the context of the materials reported in the early anthropological and ethnobotanical literature.

Scientific Studies of Pigments in Chinese Paintings, 2021