The Identification of Hafting Adhesive on a Slotted Antler Point from a Southwest Yukon Ice Patch

Abstract

This article describes the identification of a hafting adhesive on an antler point, slotted for microblade insertion. The adhesive, found in the slots of the point, would have held the microblades in place. Radiocarbon dated to 7310 ± 40 B.P. (uncalibrated), the point is one of the oldest and best-preserved artifacts recovered from the melting alpine ice patches in southwestern Yukon, Canada. Because the artifact was frozen, the organic components have not degraded and a detailed chemical analysis was possible. Analyses of residue in the slots of the point by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry showed that a conifer resin adhesive was used. The high concentration of diterpene resin acids with an abietane or pimerane skeleton confirmed a Pinaceae source for the resin. There were no chemical markers to indicate that the resin had been strongly heated to produce tar or pitch. Based on a comparison with five Pinaceae resins from trees common to southern Yukon, the resin from the slotted point most closely resembles the chemical profile of spruce (Picea sp.). The identification of this hafting adhesive on a slotted point adds significantly to our understanding of early hunting technology in Yukon.

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

“…Their presence is characteristic of a Pinus origin (Helwig et al . ). Whether the diterpenoid substances correspond to a tar, an oxidized resin or a resin is quite difficult to determine.…”

“…; Osete‐Cortina and Doménech‐Carbó ; Helwig et al . ; Steigenberger and Herm ). In addition, α‐ and β‐seco‐dehydroabietic acids, pimaric acid—sometimes present in noticeable amounts—and isopimaric acid were identified in five samples.…”

Characterization of hafting adhesives using comprehensive two‐dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry

“…Indeed, higher molecular weight compounds ( e.g. , >C 20 such as abietic acids) have often been targeted in past archaeological adhesive studies . In this study, phenanthrene, naphthalene and their respective derivatives were identified in high abundance, which have been proposed as potential volatile degradation products of abietic acids .…”

A New Approach for the Characterization of Organic Residues from Stone Tools Using GC×GC-TOFMS

“…Previous studies of archaeological residues have typically relied on extraction and derivitization [5,9,10]. However, the development of a non-destructive direct HS-SPME extraction from the residue is a substantial benefit, as further analyses can then be conducted on the item in its original state after it has been screened by VOC analysis.…”

“…Finally, an ideal method of analysis should be non-destructive in order to preserve the sample if other testing is required. Despite being a particularly challenging area of research, GC-MS has been employed successfully in numerous archaeological investigations including, but not limited to, the analysis of smoking pipe residue from ancient burials [6], ceramics [7], plasters [7], resins [2,5,[8][9][10], and resin additives, such as beeswax [9,11].…”