This research work is focused on the chemical characterization of the substance present in the internal surfaces of Roman amphorae that made them waterproof and on the identification of their content. The samples come from the wreck of the Grand Congloué 2 that was studied in the Bay of Marseille by Commander Cousteau in 1952. The twenty studied amphorae are of type Dressel 1A and were provided by Cosa in Etruria (Tuscany, Italy). The FT-IR analysis indicated different bands concerning organic matter, as the chemical link O-H from carboxylic acid, C-H of the methylene group and CO of the methyl ester. The study carried out by GC-MS showed nineteen diterpenoids, such as dehydroabietic acid and retene, which are chemical markers of Pinaceae family. Methyl ester by-products were also characterized and they revealed a pitch pyrogenically prepared from resinous wood (Pinus sp.). Principal Component Analysis allowed to group all of the twenty studied amphorae in two lots indicating two types of pitch. Concerning the content of these amphorae, the results from pitch as well as shards allowed to detect the presence of tartaric and syringic acids which are the main markers of the red wine. The comparison study between pitch and shard samples of same amphorae indicates that pitch analyses has permitted to obtain a high qualitative and quantitative proportion of wine markers.
With the aim of addressing the impact of extractive protocols in molecular characterization of ceramic content, sixteen archaeological shards and waterproofing coatings of Roman amphorae were studied to compare the extractive capacities of protocols prevalently mentioned in wine amphorae analysis. A microwave-assisted protocol is developed in order to esterify grape-derivative markers from archaeological pitch and shard. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry is used to highlight the great capacities of a two-step protocol that combines organic extraction with BF3-etherate complex butylation applied on archaeological shards. Instead, simultaneous alkaline fusion and direct-resin acid-catalyzed butylation are favored for the characterization of waterproofing material. The identification of tartaric acid, together with succinic, fumaric pyruvic and syringic acids provide valuable insights on the archaeological grape-derivative content, possibly wine. Diterpenic markers highlighted Pinus pitch and wood tar, originally used to waterproof the amphorae. Since markers are reliable tools in organic residue analyses, protocols exhibiting high extractive capacities are favored to avoid false conclusions drawn through the absence of markers.
Résumé Cette contribution se propose de dresser un bilan sur la médecine dans l’Antiquité, souche de la médecine occidentale. En s’appuyant à la fois sur les sources écrites et iconographiques mais aussi sur les témoignages de la culture matérielle et les découvertes en anthropologie, il s’agit de mettre au jour les pratiques de la médecine antique et la manière dont celle-ci est abordée par ses contemporains (acteurs, outils, remèdes...).
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