Geochemical analysis of bitumen from West Asian torpedo jars from the c. 8th century Phanom-Surin shipwreck in Thailand

Connan, Jacques; Priestman, Seth; Vosmer, Tom; Komoot, Abhirada; Tofighian, Hossein; Ghorbani, Buyuk; Engel, Michael H.; Zumberge, Alex; Velde, Thomas Van de

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2020.105111

Cited by 17 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…In India, the literature reports several examples of torpedo jars characterized by rock fragment tempers with a mineralogical assemblage due to volcanic and metamorphic fragments. Looking at the Persian Gulf area, this compositional fingerprint could be associated with clay sources located in the north of Baghdad [25,49], in accordance with studies which locates their source areas within the southern Zagros mountains [26]. In this investigation, no records of TORP.S were found in Al Hamr al-Sharqiya 1 (Oman); in 8th cent.…”

Section: Gc/ms Analysis Of Black Coatingssupporting

confidence: 90%

“…Fabric A might be associated with TORP.S type; it is reported as a pre-mid-8th cent. production [26] which is coherent with the Alagankulam stratigraphic sequence. In a moment when the Alagankulam harbor took the role as the main entrepôt in south-India in commercial contacts with Sri Lanka (e.g., Thissamaharama), a direct route from Iraq to India probably existed for the TORP.S jars.…”

Section: Gc/ms Analysis Of Black Coatingssupporting

confidence: 66%

“…In respect to the creamy vessel characterized by foraminifera rich clay paste (Fabric C), it could be identified with another TORP.C type [26], later than the first typology; in fact, this creamy type is absent in the stratigraphic sequence of Inqitat, where nor Fabric C neither TORP.S were found. Otherwise, in Alagankulam, all the torpedo jars fabrics were herewith identified, confirming a long-lasting occupancy of the site and its relevant role in the Indian Ocean trade over a wide chronological interval (since 1st-2nd AD-marked by the presence of TORP.C/Fabric B-to post-mid-8th cent.…”

Section: Gc/ms Analysis Of Black Coatingsmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…Based on the literature, the mid-8th cent. marks the transition between TORP.S (orange-red with grit inclusions) and TORP.C (creamy vessels) [26]; however, this is in contradiction with the Al Hamr al-Sharqiya 1 sequence which date the fiber-tempered creamy typology (Fabric B) to 1st-2nd centuries AD, as well as with records from Egypt, at Myos Hormos, or from Sumhuram, in Oman, where similar containers occur in contexts datable, at least, to the 1st cent. AD [34,51].…”

Section: Gc/ms Analysis Of Black Coatingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They have been found along the coast of the Indian Ocean through the Persian Gulf [25]. In spite of few archaeometric studies [25], their classification is mainly based on the typology, thus differentiating between TORP.S-brownish orange in color with abundant, well-sorted, mixed sandy grit inclusions-and TORP.C-creamy in color with less sand inclusions [26]. Based on their distribution and frequency in archeological sites during the Late Antiquity and Early Islamic periods (3rd-9th cent.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Indian Ocean trade connections: characterization and commercial routes of torpedo jars

et al. 2020

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During the Classical Period (300 BC-400 AD), the Indian Ocean emerged as one of the largest hubs of ancient international trade. For a long period, these contacts were described from a Rome-centric point of view, looking at the connections between Rome and India. However, recent studies have demonstrated that the Roman-Indo connection was only one of the vast medium and short distance trade routes involving numerous regions and populations, exchanging goods and culture. Current archaeological investigations have demonstrated that several minor trade dynamics formed the primary connective tissue of the Indian Ocean. This study attempts to trace these mid-range connections by focusing on the transport of torpedo jars, recently found in several settlements throughout the Indian Ocean. Two archaeological sites were considered: Al Hamr al-Sharqiya 1 (Inqitat, southern Oman), and the port of Alagankulam (southern India). An analytical protocol based on thin sections analysis, SEM-EDS, XRD and GC/MS was applied to a selection of fragments from the two archaeological sites. The analytical investigation carried out on these vessels identified three different ceramic compositions, which distributed differently in the two sites, characterized by a black coating due to a similar bitumen source. The location of the production sites and comparative studies between these vessels and reference materials available in the literature enabled us to cast new light on the routes followed by the torpedo jars, from Mesopotamia to India and Oman.

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Section: Gc/ms Analysis Of Black Coatingssupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Gc/ms Analysis Of Black Coatingssupporting

confidence: 66%

Section: Gc/ms Analysis Of Black Coatingsmentioning

confidence: 92%

Section: Gc/ms Analysis Of Black Coatingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Indian Ocean trade connections: characterization and commercial routes of torpedo jars

et al. 2020

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Use of in situ silica bodies in identification of rope fibers from the Phanom-Surin shipwreck, Samut Sakhon, Thailand

Grote

Rugmai

Ploymukda³

et al. 2021

Archaeol Anthropol Sci

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The remains of an ancient wooden ship were found in a shrimp farm in Samut Sakhon Province, central Thailand, in 2013. The remains, referred to as the Phanom-Surin shipwreck, are thought to be from the ninth century CE. The objective of this project was to investigate ropes from the shipwreck by comparative scanning electron microscopy in an attempt to identify the sources of the rope fibers. Two types of rope were shown to be made from bundles of fiber cells surrounded by files of stegmatal cells containing silica bodies. Stegmata are found in many species of Arecaceae, as well as in several other monocot families. Fibers from a black rope wrapped around a torpedo-shaped jar had hat-shaped silica bodies with a flat base and spinules on the outer surface, similar to those occurring in the palm tribe Caryoteae, which consists of 3 genera, Caryota, Arenga, and Wallichia, restricted to India eastward to the Pacific Islands. The fibers on a second type of rope had spherical silica bodies with spinules, found in many genera of the subfamilies Calamoideae, Coryphoideae, Ceroxyloideae, and Arecoideae, including the coconut, Cocos nucifera. These results are consistent with reports of many ancient sewn ships using ropes made from fibers of the sugar palm, Arenga pinnata, and coconut. A third type of rope was made from a rattan palm. This study demonstrates the usefulness of SEM analysis of silica bodies and cellular anatomy in determining the taxonomy and biogeographic origins of rope fibers from shipwrecks or other sources.

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Bayesian mixing models as a tool to explore Bronze Age bitumen trade from Tell Lashkir (Erbil, Iraq)

Breu

Rosell-Melé

Molist

et al. 2022

Journal of Archaeological Science

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Geochemical analysis of bitumen from West Asian torpedo jars from the c. 8th century Phanom-Surin shipwreck in Thailand

Cited by 17 publications

References 31 publications

Indian Ocean trade connections: characterization and commercial routes of torpedo jars

Indian Ocean trade connections: characterization and commercial routes of torpedo jars

Use of in situ silica bodies in identification of rope fibers from the Phanom-Surin shipwreck, Samut Sakhon, Thailand

Bayesian mixing models as a tool to explore Bronze Age bitumen trade from Tell Lashkir (Erbil, Iraq)

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