Multi-analytical characterisation of red colouration on decorated ostrich eggshells from the Middle Bronze Age in Bahrain

Abstract

In the early 1960s, a Danish archaeological team excavated a group of mounds in Bahrain dating back to 2000 BCE. Among their finds were fragments of decorated ostrich eggshells that displayed rectangular engravings as well as red colouring on the outer surface and a uniform red tint on the inner surface. The unpigmented natural colouration of ostrich eggs is the result of adaptations to prevent overheating in the arid habitat, and therefore, the red hue was artificial. The aim of this research was to characterise this colouration. Elemental analysis revealed low iron content, ruling out the use of iron-rich pigments such as ochre, while analysis by molecular spectroscopy could not detect any compounds besides the characteristic constituents of the calcareous eggshell. Thermal experiments on modern eggshells, combined with chiral amino acid analysis, indicated that the red colour on the archaeological samples could have been due to exposure to moderate temperatures. This investigation provides valuable insights into the art and cultural practices of ancient Middle Eastern societies during the Middle Bronze Age, contributing to our knowledge of prehistoric archaeology.

Metadata

Item Type:	Article
Authors/Creators:	Pastorelli, Gianluca Scharff, Mikkel Presslee, Samantha Penkman, Kirsty https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6226-9799 Richter, Jane
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information:	Funding Information: The authors express sincere gratitude to dr.phil. Flemming Højlund, Moesgaard Museum, Denmark, for providing access to the samples for the study, and to laboratory technician Charlotte H. Bak, Royal Danish Academy, for conducting the thermal treatment experiments. The authors also thank Marc Walton and Lindsay Oakley (formerly Center for Scientific Studies in the Arts, Northwestern University and Art Institute of Chicago, IL), Enrico Cappellini (Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark) and Molly Crisp (formerly Department of Chemistry, University of York, UK) for their valuable insights. This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors, with the exception of the SD-OCT measurements carried out at the Materials Characterization and Imaging Facility of Northwestern University, IL, with support from the Mellon Foundation, which the authors gratefully acknowledge. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. This is an author-produced version of the published paper. Uploaded in accordance with the University’s Research Publications and Open Access policy.
Keywords:	Ancient Near East, Chiral amino acid analysis, Colour characterisation, Decorated ostrich eggshell, Elemental analysis, Experimental archaeology, Molecular spectroscopy
Dates:	Submitted: 22 March 2023 Accepted: 15 September 2023 Published (online): 9 October 2023 Published: 1 December 2023
Institution:	The University of York
Academic Units:	The University of York > Faculty of Sciences (York) > Chemistry (York) The University of York > Faculty of Arts and Humanities (York) > Archaeology (York)
Depositing User:	Pure (York)
Date Deposited:	16 Oct 2023 15:30
Last Modified:	30 Apr 2024 23:50
Published Version:	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2023.104217
Status:	Published
Refereed:	Yes
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2023.104217
Related URLs:	http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?...

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Multi-analytical characterisation of red colouration on decorated ostrich eggshells from the Middle Bronze Age in Bahrain

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