Admiraal, M. orcid.org/0000-0002-9830-8032, Lucquin, A. orcid.org/0000-0003-4892-6323, Drieu, L. orcid.org/0000-0002-7324-4925 et al. (3 more authors) (2019) Leftovers: The presence of manufacture-derived aquatic lipids in Alaskan pottery. Archaeometry. ISSN 0003-813X
Abstract
Lipids preserved within the walls of ancient pottery vessels are routinely analysed to reveal their original contents. The provenience of aquatic lipids in pottery is generally connected to vessel function (e.g., for cooking or storing fish, shellfish and aquatic mammals). However, ethnographic reports from early historic Alaska mention the use of aquatic oils for waterproofing low-fired pottery. Results of lipid residue studies on Alaskan pottery reflect an exclusive function of pottery to process aquatic resources. However, can one be sure these residues are the product of vessel function and not a remnant of the manufacturing process? The study presents the results of an experiment where the preservation of aquatic lipids during the firing process at different temperatures was measured. It was found that nearly all lipids were removed at firing temperatures of ≥ 400°C. Petrographic analysis of Alaskan pottery samples indicates that firing temperatures were generally > 550°C but <800°C. The contribution of pre-firing manufacture-derived lipids to samples fired at these temperatures may be regarded as negligible. While the possible presence of aquatic lipids from post-firing surface treatments cannot be excluded, such treatments appear unnecessary for well-fired pottery.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2019 The Authors. |
Keywords: | pottery,lipid residue analysis,petrography,firing temperature,aquatic lipids,quantification,Alaska |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Arts and Humanities (York) > Archaeology (York) |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 04 Dec 2019 13:00 |
Last Modified: | 10 Nov 2024 01:23 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1111/arcm.12515 |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1111/arcm.12515 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:154167 |
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