Birch bark tar, the oldest adhesive known in Europe, was widely used during Prehistory. This material, produced by the dry distillation of birch bark, has been identified in various spheres of activities and provides valuable information on the know-how and technical and territorial systems of past societies. This biomaterial can also provide evidence on socio-economic networks and mobility. However, very little is known about the production systems of birch bark tar during Prehistory, including the Neolithic period. The lack of findings in the archaeological record necessitates the development of an approach that combines experimental archaeology and biomolecular chemistry. We present here (1) the results of experiments in which different birch bark tar production systems were tested and (2) the molecular signatures of the birch bark tars produced according to different processes based on the use of ceramic vessels. The key role of bark quality is highlighted for the first time. This study also details direct archaeological inference of the experimental results obtained: a total of 23 samples from the site of Nice-Giribaldi (France, second part of the fifth century BCE) was investigated. Different categories of birch bark tars were identified during Neolithic in the south of France, providing evidence for the existence of complex manufacturing systems and procurement networks.
List: GP, LP and AT conducted the field research. AT performed the petrographic and technological study; VR and SB the use-wear analysis; VR and DC the residue analysis. LP studied the geomorphology and stratigraphy. MAJ performed the taphonomical and zooarchaeological analysis. SS performed the photogrammetry and 3D scanning. MM conducted the spatial analysis. PS performed the granulometric analysis; MB the ZooMs analysis. VR directed the SEM-EDS and CT-scan. MG made the drawings of the lithic implements. CC prepared the graphic reconstruction of the weapon. VR, JC, AT and CL designed and conducted the experiments. AT, GP, VR, and LP wrote the paper.
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