“…As documented in all previous studies of archaeological bitumen since the pioneering works of Connan [ 3 , 8 , 9 ], molecular tools, especially sterane and terpane distribution patterns, have been used to determine the origin of the bitumen [ 1 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]. Bulk stable carbon and deuterium isotope analyses [ 23 , 24 ], and the isotopic ratio of saturated, aromatic and asphaltene fractions [ 2 , 8 , 12 , 16 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ], have also been used for bitumen provenance.…”