Mass spectrometry for cultural heritage knowledge: gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric analysis of organic remains in Neolithic potsherds (original) (raw)

2001, Journal of Mass Spectrometry

Mass spectrometry for cultural heritage knowledge: gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric analysis of organic remains in Neolithic potsherds † The application of scientific methods to study materials and handicrafts of archaeological interest contributes to solve successfully various problems of identification, dating, utilization of objects and shreds found by the archaeologist. 1 In this way, it is possible to obtain interesting information on the everyday life of ancient peoples. Mass spectrometry is a powerful tool for research in this field, thanks to its high analytical sensitivity and specificity; many of its applications are in the study of organic materials such as bones, food remains, seeds, resins, waxes, natural dyes, etc. 2-4 In order to achieve new knowledge on trade, storage, cooking, processing of foods and diet of Neolithic peoples, we carried out a study by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) on some pottery sherds found during an archaeological excavation at S. Marco hill, near Paternò, a country town in the Etna volcano area, Eastern Sicily. Lipids absorbed into the porous structure of the potsherds are generally well preserved. Compositional alteration through microbial activity is small and therefore the lipids are often a direct reflection of the original contents and usage of ceramic vessels (vases, pans, bowls, etc.). 5,6 The identification of the lipid profile can provide important information for the classification of artefact use. In this kind of research, attention must be paid to contamination arising from migration of soil components. 7 Our program consisted in studying the composition of the fatty acid fraction extracted from eight sherds buried in a late Neolithic settlement; four are fragments (a few square centimeters) of pans or bowls (samples 1-4) and the other four are fragments of strainerlike objects, showing many holes (samples 5-8). These holes are of different sizes in the four fragments (2-6 mm). Two solvents, light petroleum and dichloromethane were used to extract intact potsherds in an ultrasonic bath for 30 min at room temperature and then for 6 h under reflux in a specially designed all-glass device. The combined extracts were hydrolyzed in an alkaline 0.5 M solution of sodium hydroxide in water-methanol (1 : 1) for 90 min.