Exploitation of Beehive Products, Plant Exudates and Tars in Corsica During the Early Iron Age

Abstract

In the north‐western Mediterranean area, the first Iron Age is characterized by intense contacts and cultural interactions between populations. Archaeological remains such as ceramic vessels or metal and glass objects are usually good indicators of the nature and the intensity of these exchanges, but can also be used to determine the way in which these populations were living at their time. In contrast, organic substances, despite their importance in a wide variety of activities, are rarely investigated due to their low degree of preservation. The recent discovery of a series of amorphous organic residues with adhesive properties at the site of Cuciurpula provided a unique opportunity to address questions related to the types of natural substances exploited, their provenance, their uses and their informational input to intercultural relationships. Our results, based on GC and GC–MS analysis of organic residues preserved at the site of Cuciurpula, provide strong evidence for the most southern use of birch bark tar in Western Europe, and also for the simultaneous use of this substance with pine resin. Beeswax was also identified in some samples. The combined study of residue composition, aspect and location on ceramic sherds reveals a variety of uses, highlighting a complex technical system.

Birch bark tar and jewellery: The case study of a necklace from the Iron Age (Eckwersheim, NE France)

“…Archaeological evidence of birch bark tar, an adhesive substance obtained by dry pyrolysis of birch bark (e.g. Regert et al, 1998;Koller et al, 2001;Rageot et al, 2015), is abundantly documented in the literature. Considered as one of the first man-made organic material, birch bark tar is frequently present among archaeological finds dated from the Neolithic period in Europe and its first use by Neanderthalians is dated back to the Palaeolithic (Koller et al, 2001).…”

“…Regert et al, 1998;Koller et al, 2001), the reparation and waterproofing of pottery (e.g. Binder et al, 1990;Charters et al, 1993;Connan et al, 2000;Urem-Kotsou et al, 2002;Rageot et al, 2015), the decoration of ceramics (e.g. Vogt, 1949;Trąbska et al, 2011;Rageot et al, 2015) and, more surprisingly, as chewing-gum (e.g.…”

“…Binder et al, 1990;Charters et al, 1993;Connan et al, 2000;Urem-Kotsou et al, 2002;Rageot et al, 2015), the decoration of ceramics (e.g. Vogt, 1949;Trąbska et al, 2011;Rageot et al, 2015) and, more surprisingly, as chewing-gum (e.g. Aveling and Heron, 1999;van Gijn and Boon, 2006;Karg et al, 2014).…”

Evidence for Birch Bark Tar Use as an Adhesive and Decorative Element in Early Iron Age Central Italy: Technological and Socio‐Economic Implications

“…It is therefore possible that the inhabitants of Vetulonia organized relatively long journeys to harvest birch bark for extracting tar for multiple purposes, as suggested for Early Iron Age Corsica (Rageot et al . ). On the other hand, based on complementary archaeological evidence, the possibility of birch bark, or birch bark tar as a ready‐to‐use product reaching Vetulonia (and presumably other contemporary settlements) through a system of long‐distance exchange and trade of raw matter and valuable goods, cannot be ruled out.…”

Pine traces at Star Carr: Evidence from residues on stone tools

“…Fourthly, just three diterpenoids marker compounds were found in the tool samples. The identification of a full suite (five or more) of Pinaceae resin-related acids from historical and archaeological samples have been described (Bailly et al, 2016;Burger et al, 2013;Egenberg et al, 2002;Fox et al, 1995;Helwig et al, 2008;Hjulström et al, 2006;Modugno and Ribechini, 2009;Rageot et al, 2016;Regert, 2004;Regert et al, 2005;Ribechini et al, 2009Ribechini et al, , 2008 , and such reports provide stronger evidence for the interpretation of ancient Pinaceae resin. Our results are similar to other findings that identify Pinaceae resin on the basis of two to four altered abietic acid marker compounds (Bianchin et al, 2009;Čukovska et al, 2012;Giachi et al, 2013;Pérez-Arantegui et al, 2009;Proefke and Rinehart, 1992) .…”