Revealing Medieval culinary practices in Norway: A first metabolomic-based approach

Abstract

The last technological developments in chemical analysis with high resolution-mass spectrometry allow a more precise, secure, sensitive, and accurate detection of markers preserved in archaeological vessels, even as trace or ultratrace level. We develop a new metabolomic-based approach and applied on a series of 19 soapstone vessels from Medieval Norway. The very nature of the ancient materials contained in the vessels could be identified from the fatty acids, sterols, phenolics composition. Aquatic resources, identified from their fatty acid composition and specially isoprenoid acids, isomeric 22:1 acids, and their heat-degraded markers ω -(o-alkylphenyl)alkanoic acids, have largely been exploited during Medieval times. The metabolomic approach brings also in light the consummation of fruit derivatives, especially grape, apple, and plum derivatives identified from their aldaric, phenolic or suggested from their enterolignans. This pioneer method clearly open new research facilities for the comprehension of everyday life of ancient populations from their domestic vessels.