A comparative geochemical study of bituminous boat remains from H3, As‐Sabiyah (Kuwait), and RJ‐2, Ra's al‐Jinz (Oman)

Abstract

This paper presents a geochemical analysis of fragments of bituminous amalgam from H3, As‐Sabiyah (Kuwait), and RJ‐2, Ra's al‐Jinz (Oman). The fragments bear barnacles on one side and reed impressions on the other, and are thought to have been part of the coating of reed‐bundle boats. The material from H3 dates to between 5300–4900 BC, while that of RJ‐2 dates to 2500–2100 BC. Samples from both sites were geochemically compared to archaeological and ethnographic material from Kosak Shamali (northern Syria, c.5000–4400 BC), RH‐5 (Oman, 4400–3500 BC) and Baghdad (central Iraq, 1900 AD). The composition of the bituminous amalgams was studied in detail. Rock‐Eval Pyrolysis gave a measure of Total Organic Carbon in the samples, and allowed an initial comparison of the data sets using various parameters. Examination of the proportions of soluble and insoluble organic matter allowed an assessment of the quantity of vegetal matter added to the bitumen to make the bituminous amalgam. The composition of the Ra's al‐Jinz material was studied using X‐Ray Diffraction analysis and thin‐section petrography, in order to assess the proportions of various minerals in the bituminous amalgams. It was concluded that the recipe for the bituminous mixture used to coat reed‐bundle and wooden boats did not differ significantly from that commonly used to make ‘mortar’ for architectural purposes in Mesopotamia. Traces of animal fats or fish oils were not found in the analysed Ra's al‐Jinz material, in contrast to previous hypotheses regarding the composition of the mixture. Comparison of the gross composition of extractable organic matter (the constituents of pure bitumen, soluble in chloroform or dichloromethane) showed the progressive effects of weathering on the samples. The isotopic composition of the bituminous material from H3 and the other sites was then compared to that of bitumen seeps and crude oils from Mesopotamia, Iran and Oman. The most significant result is that the material from As‐Sabiyah originated in Kuwait, at a surface seep at Burgan, while the material from Ra's al‐Jinz had a source in northern Mesopotamia.

How the Olmec used bitumen in ancient Mesoamerica

“…4). Boat makers in other world areas where natural bitumen seeps are found, such as the Near East and California, have relied on bitumen's waterproofing (and adhesive) qualities for centuries (Alliot, 1970;Arnold and Bernard, 2005;Barton, 1926;Connan, 1999;Connan and Deschesne, 1992;Connan and Nishiaki, 2003;Connan et al, 2005;Gutman, 1979Gutman, , 1983Hudson et al, 1978;Ochsenschlager, 1992;Schwartz, 2002). It is also worth mentioning that in areas close to natural seeps in the southern Gulf lowlands, residents continue to use natural bitumen for dugout and plank canoe repair and in the preparation of surfaces, pathways, and to treat wood (Fig.…”

Identification, Geochemical Characterisation and Significance of Bitumen among the Grave Goods of the 7th Century Mound 1 Ship-Burial at Sutton Hoo (Suffolk, UK)

“…As a consequence of this erroneous identification the significance of these materials in the burial has been both misunderstood and understated. Although bitumen has long been used to caulk boats in the Middle East [29–30], there is no evidence for its use in this context in Britain or northern Europe [31], even though local sources are available (Fig 1). The interpretation of the tarry lumps in the burial chamber as a mariner’s repair kit must now be rejected [3].…”

“…These are considered reliable indicators for the origin of archaeological bitumen providing they have not been severely affected by weathering, which can modify gross and molecular compositions [30, 41]. Hydrogen isotopic values (δD) on the other hand are sensitive to these alteration phenomena, leading to enrichment in deuterium in archaeological samples [30, 37, 41].…”

“…These are considered reliable indicators for the origin of archaeological bitumen providing they have not been severely affected by weathering, which can modify gross and molecular compositions [30, 41]. Hydrogen isotopic values (δD) on the other hand are sensitive to these alteration phenomena, leading to enrichment in deuterium in archaeological samples [30, 37, 41]. Isotopic values of the asphaltene fraction recovered from Sutton Hoo sample 1939,1010.251 (δ 13 C: -29.2 ‰ and δD: -100.9 ‰) are consistent with other published asphaltene isotopic values obtained for archaeological Dead Sea bitumen [37, 41, 42, 43].…”

“…The ratios of Ts (C 27 18α-22,29,30-trisnorneohopane) to Tm (C 27 17α-22,29,30-trisnorhopane) and gammacerane to C 30 17α,21β (H) hopane have previously been employed as reliable genetic parameters for determining the sources of archaeological bitumen [30, 37, 42]. Based on these graphs the strongest affiliation for the Sutton Hoo bitumen is with the Dead Sea and not British bitumen.…”