Lipid residues in pottery from the Indus Civilisation in northwest India

Suryanarayan, Akshyeta; Morera, Miriam Cubas; Craig, Oliver E.; Heron, C.; Shinde, Vasant; Rh, Singh; O’Connell, Tamsin C.; Petrie, Cameron A.

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2020.105291

Cited by 21 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 94 publications

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“…The analytical investigation of organic archaeological residues has received attention due to the resilience of organic molecules, such as lipids and their breakdown products, which helps researchers access information on dietary habits, rituals, and other practices developed by cultures of the past [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. For instance, extended research has been done in ancient unglazed pottery since they offer a convenient protective medium, though allowing for the intrusion of organic compounds, preserves said compounds from environmental degradation for millennia [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 ]. Relatively fewer cases have been reported in wooden containers such as coffins [ 39 ] or metal alloys such as copper [ 9 , 40 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fatty Acids and Their Metal Salts: A Review of Their Infrared Spectra in Light of Their Presence in Cultural Heritage

2021

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In a cultural heritage context, fatty acids are usually found as breakdown products of lipid-containing organic remains in archaeological findings, binders in aged oil paintings, and additives in modern art-related materials. They may further interact with the ionic environment transforming into metal soaps, a process that has been recognized as a threat in aged paintings but has received less attention in archaeological objects. The investigation of the above related categories of materials with infrared spectroscopy can provide an overall picture of the organic components’ identity and demonstrate their condition and prehistory. The capability of investigating and distinguishing fatty acids and their metal soaps through their rich infrared features, such as the acidic carbonyl, the carboxylate shifts, the variable splits of alkyl chain stretching, bending, twisting, wagging, and rocking vibrations, as well as the hydroxyl peak envelopes and acid dimer bands, allows for their direct detailed characterization. This paper reviews the infrared spectra of selected saturated fatty monoacids and diacids, and their corresponding sodium, calcium, and zinc salts and, supported by newly recorded data, highlights the significance of their spectroscopic features.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fatty Acids and Their Metal Salts: A Review of Their Infrared Spectra in Light of Their Presence in Cultural Heritage

2021

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“…At MDS-I XK2, fine-paste ceramic sherds represent c.52% of the assemblage, and c.44% of ceramic objects (7400 sherds, c.118.3 kg), such as ceramic building materials, organic-rich-paste vessels, and terracotta cakes, show coarse ceramic fabrics. Observations of ceramic material from Lohari Ragho I and other trenches at Masudpur I have also been published elsewhere (Singh et al , 2010(Singh et al , 2015Petrie et al 2009;Petrie 2016, 2019;Suryanarayan 2021). The analysis of material from these rural sites close to the major Indus urban site of Rakhigarhi was carried out as part of the Land, Water & Settlement project, and helped set the framework for the TwoRains project (Petrie et al 2017).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 84%

Setting the wheels in motion: Re-examining ceramic forming techniques in Indus Civilisation villages in northwest India

Ceccarelli

Quinn

et al. 2021

Journal of Anthropological Archaeology

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The invention of rotational devices contributed to a range of developments in craft production technology, perhaps most visibly in the various forms of potter's wheels. These technological innovations, and the adoption or non-adoption of those innovations, carry economic and social implications, which are significant for understanding past human behaviour. There has been debate around the introduction and use of the potter's wheel in South Asia's Indus Civilisation for almost a century, and opinions remain divided. This paper considers the emerging ceramic traditions identified at two Indus settlements in modern Haryana, northwest India. It presents evidence demonstrating that Indus Civilisation potters utilised multiple forming techniques for producing ceramic vessels and explores the evidence for the use of rotational gestures and rotational devices in regional ceramic production industries. Two dominant technological traditions are outlined, along with the implications of this discovery and future research opportunities.

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“…Many procedures have been described in the literature, in which lipids are extracted and methylated at the same time [ 4 , 51 , 113 , 114 ]. Such a strategy is the so-called “direct extraction-derivatization”, which reduces the number of clean up-steps and is therefore particularly advantageous in terms of time and costs per analysis [ 109 ].…”

Section: Sampling and Extraction Protocols Of Lipids From Ancient Pot...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Broadly speaking, culinary pottery can be distinguished according to its use, i.e., storage containers, processing vessels (employed for grinding, crushing, mixing, marinating, boiling, roasting etc.) and tableware (for eating or serving) [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]. Organic residues can be found both in the inner and outer part of the pottery container as visible remains, surface deposits and encrustations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is well established, however, that some archaeological environments can retard the degradation of lipids, for instance, very dry climactic conditions [ 19 , 20 , 21 ] or acidic soils [ 4 , 22 , 23 ] may retard their decay. In addition, the entrapment of lipid molecules within a ceramic matrix preserves or, at least, retards their alteration [ 13 , 24 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Lipids in Archaeological Pottery: A Review on Their Sampling and Extraction Techniques

et al. 2022

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Several studies have been performed so far for the effective recovery, detection and quantification of specific compounds and their degradation products in archaeological materials. According to the literature, lipid molecules are the most durable and widespread biomarkers in ancient pottery. Artificial ageing studies to simulate lipid alterations over time have been reported. In this review, specific lipid archaeological biomarkers and well-established sampling and extraction methodologies are discussed. Although suitable analytical techniques have unraveled archaeological questions, some issues remain open such as the need to introduce innovative and miniaturized protocols to avoid extractions with organic solvents, which are often laborious and non-environmentally friendly.

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Lipid residues in pottery from the Indus Civilisation in northwest India

Cited by 21 publications

References 94 publications

Fatty Acids and Their Metal Salts: A Review of Their Infrared Spectra in Light of Their Presence in Cultural Heritage

Fatty Acids and Their Metal Salts: A Review of Their Infrared Spectra in Light of Their Presence in Cultural Heritage

Setting the wheels in motion: Re-examining ceramic forming techniques in Indus Civilisation villages in northwest India

Lipids in Archaeological Pottery: A Review on Their Sampling and Extraction Techniques

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