Abstract
Ceramic fragments from the Islet of Guidoiro Areoso (NW Spain), covering a wide range of cultural periods (Neolithic to Late Bronze Age), have been studied by color analysis, elemental analysis of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), and molecular analysis (thermally assisted hydrolysis and methylation, THM-GC-MS), in order to identify the organic matter (OM) in the prehistoric pottery and reveal information on ceramic production techniques, food remains and post-depositional effects. Results showed that the strong marine influence (sherds recovered from coastal deposits) and microbial activity (recovery from waste deposits, “cuncheiros”) had a profound effect on C/N ratio and molecular composition (N-rich protein and chitin structures). Other organic ingredients originated from the material used for creating the ware (detected as pyrogenic OM) and possibly food remains (fatty acid fingerprints). Dark-colored ware was enriched in both pyrogenic OM from incomplete combustion and non-bacterial fatty acids. Fatty acid patterns could not be related to possible vessel use, and markers of aquatic resources were scarce, or absent. It is argued that THM-GC-MS of pottery fragments is useful for understanding how an archaeological deposit developed in time, what kinds of OM are present, and possibly to make a pre-selection of samples with high potential for more cost-demanding dietary molecular assessments.
Highlights
In spite of the advances in organic chemistry applications for archaeometry, there is still potential to be explored
We aimed to explore the potential of THM-GC-MS for the characterization of organic matter (OM) in a series of well-characterized ceramics recovered from Guidoiro Areoso islet in Galicia (NW Spain)
The present study explores 50 samples analyzed by THM-GC-MS, color analysis and elemental analysis to determine the amounts of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N)
Summary
In spite of the advances in organic chemistry applications for archaeometry, there is still potential to be explored. Shoda et al [25] recently reported THM-GC-MS data of Neolithic pottery from Korea, using ω-(o-alkylphenyl) alkanoic acids, isoprenoid fatty acids and triterpenoids as biomarkers of palaeodiet and in particular aquatic resources Inspired by these results, we aimed to explore the potential of THM-GC-MS for the characterization of OM in a series of well-characterized ceramics recovered from Guidoiro Areoso islet in Galicia (NW Spain). Being close to the (actual) see level, this set of ceramics has an added complexity of strong marine influences, reflected by for instance mollusks growing on potsherd surfaces Such coastal environments may be more likely to contain residues of aquatic resources that produce isoprenoid fatty acids [25,26,27]
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