Morning session - part 1 9:15-10:45
Influence of the Ceramic Matrix on Lipid Retention and Extraction from Archaeological Potteries
Yaël Antonaros (1) - Jehan Waeytens (2) - Kristin Bartik (3) - Alicia Van Ham-Meert (4)
Université libre de Bruxelles, EMNS & 4Mat, Brussels, Belgium (1) - Université libre de Bruxelles, Département enseignement interdisciplinaire en Sciences pharmaceutiques, Brussels, Belgium (2) - Université libre de Bruxelles, EMNS, Brussels, Belgium (3) - Université libre de Bruxelles, 4Mat & CreA-Patrimoine, Brussels, Belgium (4)
Keywords: Calcium carbonate, Ceramic matrix, Lipids
Triacylglycerols, plant sterols, and terpenoids are valuable biomarkers in Organic Residue Analysis. They are generally well preserved within porous unglazed ceramics due to their hydrophobic and chemically stable nature, which help prevent leaching and microbial breakdown. The entrapment and retention of these residues are influenced by the ceramic matrix’s porosity and composition and recent studies have highlighted the potential role of calcium carbonate, commonly used as a temper in archaeological ceramics, in lipid retention and extraction.1,2 The amount of calcium carbonate present could lead to differential recovery of lipids and thus bias the extracted lipidic profile.
Our project combines traditional mineralogical characterization methods (XRD, XRF, SEM-EDX, Hg μporosimetry) with AFM-IR3, which allows for precise mapping of residues within ceramic matrices, to investigate the influence of the ceramic matrix on lipid extraction. Additionally, we are constructing a reliable model of the cooking processes in different ceramic matrices, in view of obtaining detailed temperature profiles. This will enable to work with a broader dataset and a better understanding of the thermal history of archaeological ceramics, further refining our ability to interpret artefact use and cultural practices.
References:
1 Hammann, S., Scurr, D.J., Alexander, M.R. & Cramp, L.J.E. Mechanisms of lipid preservation in archaeological clay ceramics revealed by mass spectrometry imaging. PNAS 117, 14688–14693, (2020).
2 Cayme, J-M., Vahur, S., Teearu, A., Oras, E., Leito, I. The impact of mineral composition on the yield and preservation of selected fatty acids in replicate archeological ceramics. Journal of Chemical Metrology 18, 95-113 (2024).
3 Mathurin, J. et al. AFM-IR nanospectroscopy of nanoglobule-like particles in Ryugu samples returned by the Hayabusa2 mission. Astronomy & Astrophysics 684, 1-14 (2024).
