Characterization of an ancient ‘chemical’ preparation: pigments and drugs in medieval Islamic Spain

Pérez-Arantegui, Josefina; Ribechini, Erika; Colombini, Maria Perla; Escudero, Francisco

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2011.07.021

Cited by 18 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…The use of different chromatographic methods to analyse the same material is also becoming more routine, particularly in the area of dyes and paints where organic colourants may be mixed with different binding materials (165,166). Where inorganic colourants are also present, a combination of chromatographic and other techniques such as XRF, XRD, SEM, SEM-EDX, Raman and FT-IR can provide a complete characterization of the paints, dyes or other materials being analysed (28,122,(167)(168)(169). This approach has also proved successful in the analysis of vessel contents suspected of being paints, inks, medicines or cosmetics (168,170,171).…”

Section: The Use Of Multiple Techniques In Residue Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Where inorganic colourants are also present, a combination of chromatographic and other techniques such as XRF, XRD, SEM, SEM-EDX, Raman and FT-IR can provide a complete characterization of the paints, dyes or other materials being analysed (28,122,(167)(168)(169). This approach has also proved successful in the analysis of vessel contents suspected of being paints, inks, medicines or cosmetics (168,170,171). For a round robin analysis of a 17 th century ointment, recreated to an authentic recipe, 11 laboratories used 10 different methods to analyse a sample of the ointment (172).…”

Section: The Use Of Multiple Techniques In Residue Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Organic Residues in Archaeology: The Highs and Lows of Recent Research

Steele

2013

ACS Symposium Series

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The analysis of organic residues from archaeological materials has become increasingly important to our understanding of ancient diet, trade and technology. Residues from diverse contexts have been retrieved and analysed from the remains of food, medicine and cosmetics to hafting material on stone arrowheads, pitch and tar from shipwrecks, and ancient manure from soils. Research has brought many advances in our understanding of archaeological, organic residues over the past two decades. Some have enabled very specific and detailed interpretations of materials preserved in the archaeological record. However there are still areas where we know very little, like the mechanisms at work during the formation and preservation of residues, and areas where each advance produces more questions rather than answers, as in the identification of degraded fats. This chapter will discuss some of the significant achievements in the field over the past decade and the ongoing challenges for research in this area.1341280_File000001_20903114.docPrinted 7/19/2013 2

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Section: The Use Of Multiple Techniques In Residue Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Use Of Multiple Techniques In Residue Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Organic Residues in Archaeology: The Highs and Lows of Recent Research

Steele

2013

ACS Symposium Series

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“…The fig was found inside a small glazed ceramic pot, which was possibly part of a chemical preparation for pigment or medical purposes. The fig remains were preserved in a very particular environment, given that they were recovered from a small (65 mm high, maximum diameter of 66 mm) glazed ceramic vessel and covered by a layer of inorganic compounds, a mixture of orpiment (arsenic sulphide, As 2 S 3 ) and gypsum (calcium sulphate, CaSO 4 ·2H 2 O) [18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry for the chemical characterisation of modern and archaeological figs (Ficus carica)

Ribechini

Pérez-Arantegui

Colombini

2011

Journal of Chromatography A

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“…archaeometry | archaeobotany | chemical analysis | mineralogical analysis | Etruscan shipwreck I n archaeology, the discovery of ancient medicines is very rare, as is knowledge of their chemical composition (1)(2)(3). Most information regarding such findings comes from ancient writers such as Theophrastus (371-286 B.C.…”

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Ingredients of a 2,000-y-old medicine revealed by chemical, mineralogical, and botanical investigations

Giachi¹,

Pallecchi²,

Romualdi³

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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In archaeology, the discovery of ancient medicines is very rare, as is knowledge of their chemical composition. In this paper we present results combining chemical, mineralogical, and botanical investigations on the well-preserved contents of a tin pyxis discovered onboard the Pozzino shipwreck (second century B.C.). The contents consist of six flat, gray, discoid tablets that represent direct evidence of an ancient medicinal preparation. The data revealed extraordinary information on the composition of the tablets and on their possible therapeutic use. Hydrozincite and smithsonite were by far the most abundant ingredients of the Pozzino tablets, along with starch, animal and plant lipids, and pine resin. The composition and the form of the Pozzino tablets seem to indicate that they were used for ophthalmic purposes: the Latin name collyrium (eyewash) comes from the Greek name κoλλύ ρα, which means "small round loaves." This study provided valuable information on ancient medical and pharmaceutical practices and on the development of pharmacology and medicine over the centuries. In addition, given the current focus on natural compounds, our data could lead to new investigations and research for therapeutic care. We present results combining chemical, mineralogical, and botanical investigations on the well-preserved contents of a tin pyxis. This pyxis was found onboard the Pozzino shipwreck discovered on the seabed of the Baratti Gulf (Fig. S1) at a depth of about 18 m near the remains of the Etruscan city of Populonia (Tuscany, Piombino, Italy) (4-6). The shipwreck was discovered in 1974 and the Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici della Toscana (archaeological authorities of Tuscany) undertook the first exploration in 1982 and archaeological excavation during [1989][1990]. The ship consisted of a small hull (15-18 m long and about 3 m wide) preserved only in the central part and inclined in the direction east-west, with the stern probably facing west. It was dated to the second half of the second century B.C. (probably 140-130 B.C.) on the basis of the archaeological findings. At that time, Populonia was of primary importance along the seatrade routes between the West and East, and this shipwreck bears witness to the republican trades across the Mediterranean Sea. Many interesting objects were found during the excavations, among them Sirian-Palestinian glass bowls, still stacked; WestSlope ware from Pergamon; some lagynoi; Rodian amphoras for wine transport; lamps of Ephesian origin; several tin and bronze vessels, such as one-handled jugs (one with a filter spout); oinochoai with trefoil mouths; ladles; and one inkwell, all of which came from the same geographical area. Such objects suggest that the ship, or at least a great part of its cargo, came from the east, probably the Greek coasts or islands. It is very likely that the ship was first equipped in the free harbor of the island of Delos (4, 5). The cargo also included medical equipment: numerous tin pyxides and 136 wooden vials were found close to an iro...

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Characterization of an ancient ‘chemical’ preparation: pigments and drugs in medieval Islamic Spain

Cited by 18 publications

References 32 publications

Organic Residues in Archaeology: The Highs and Lows of Recent Research

Organic Residues in Archaeology: The Highs and Lows of Recent Research

Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry for the chemical characterisation of modern and archaeological figs (Ficus carica)

Ingredients of a 2,000-y-old medicine revealed by chemical, mineralogical, and botanical investigations

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