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Separations
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Analytical Chromatography Applied to Archaeology
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Analytical Chromatography Applied to Archaeology

A special issue of Separations (ISSN 2297-8739). This special issue belongs to the section "Chromatographic Separations".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 September 2022) | Viewed by 10169

Special Issue Editor

Dr. César Oliveira

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
HERCULES Laboratory, University of Évora, Largo Marquês de Marialva, 8, 7000-809 Évora, Portugal
Interests: archaeometry; organic residue analysis; biomarkers; chromatography; gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GCMS); Roman archaeology; Roman amphorae

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Chromatographic techniques are gaining interest among the archaeological community as they allow the identification of organic residues from archaeological materials, an important source of information for archaeologists. These are often composed of complex mixtures of molecules that need to be resolved, a crucial step in molecular archaeology to identify biomarkers and provide information on the diet of our ancestors, habits, technologies, or to follow ancient trade routes.

The target of this Special Issue is to present the state-of-the-art in analytical chromatographic studies of organic residues on archaeologic materials. Multidisciplinary projects with a broad timespan and geographical region where chromatography assumes an important role, procedures focusing on the best archaeological practices regarding organic residue studies, and experimental archaeology on searching for new biomarkers will also be valued.

Dr. César Oliveira
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Separations is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • archaeology
  • chromatography
  • organic contents
  • organic residue analysis
  • biomarkers
  • mass spectrometry
  • GCMS

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 3841 KiB  
Article
Unveiling the Use of Wide Horizontal Rim Vessels (Bronze Age Northwest Iberian Peninsula)
by César Oliveira, Raquel Vilaça, André Lopes Pereira and Anna Lígia Vitale
Separations 2022, 9(11), 366; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/separations9110366 - 10 Nov 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1822
Abstract
This paper addresses a “wide horizontal rim vessel” belonging to the collection of Fundação Sousa d’Oliveira (Azores). Although its provenance and the circumstances of its discovery are currently unknown, the authors contend that this vessel should be attributed to the Iberian Northwest and, [...] Read more.
This paper addresses a “wide horizontal rim vessel” belonging to the collection of Fundação Sousa d’Oliveira (Azores). Although its provenance and the circumstances of its discovery are currently unknown, the authors contend that this vessel should be attributed to the Iberian Northwest and, more specifically, to the Portuguese territory, in line with the highly homogenous distribution of this type of pottery. A morphological and stylistic study has been carried out establishing its singularity with regards to the decorative composition of the rim, which is without parallel amongst dozens of vessels of the same “family”. During the study of this piece, it has been possible to observe traces of soot and organic residues deposited both on its interior and exterior surfaces, which is recurrent in these vessels. The nature of these substances has never been determined in previous studies. In this article, we present and discuss the results obtained from the chromatographic analyses of the organic residue traces found on the vessel. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analytical Chromatography Applied to Archaeology)
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18 pages, 6738 KiB  
Article
Geochemical Analysis of Two Samples of Bitumen from Jars Discovered on Muhut and Masirah Islands (Oman)
by Jacques Connan, Michael H. Engel, Robert B. Jackson, Seth Priestman, Tom Vosmer and Alex Zumberge
Separations 2021, 8(10), 182; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/separations8100182 - 12 Oct 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2602
Abstract
Two samples of bitumen were obtained, one from a torpedo jar (c. 3rd–8th C. AD) from Masirah island and one from a Tunisian jar (c. 18th C. AD) from Muhut island off the central coast of Oman. Steranes and terpanes, as well as [...] Read more.
Two samples of bitumen were obtained, one from a torpedo jar (c. 3rd–8th C. AD) from Masirah island and one from a Tunisian jar (c. 18th C. AD) from Muhut island off the central coast of Oman. Steranes and terpanes, as well as isotope data on chromatographic fractions, were used as tools to characterize the bitumen. Comparison of data with those already acquired on bitumen from torpedo jars from Thailand, Iran, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, India, and oil seeps from Iran and Iraq allowed us to conclude that the bitumen originated from different areas of southwest Iran. Those of the Muhut jar were likely from Khuzistan, whereas those from Masirah island appear to have been sourced from Kermanshah. These findings are in keeping with other similar geochemical studies undertaken on bitumen lined vessels from across the region (see more below). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analytical Chromatography Applied to Archaeology)
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16 pages, 4483 KiB  
Article
Use of Thermally Assisted Hydrolysis and Methylation (THM-GC-MS) to Unravel Influence of Pottery Production and Post-Depositional Processes on the Molecular Composition of Organic Matter in Sherds from a Complex Coastal Settlement
by Joeri Kaal, María Guadalupe Castro González, Antonio Martínez Cortizas and María Pilar Prieto Martínez
Separations 2021, 8(9), 140; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/separations8090140 - 01 Sep 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1923
Abstract
Ceramic fragments from the Islet of Guidoiro Areoso (NW Spain), covering a wide range of cultural periods (Neolithic to Late Bronze Age), have been studied by color analysis, elemental analysis of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), and molecular analysis (thermally assisted hydrolysis and [...] Read more.
Ceramic fragments from the Islet of Guidoiro Areoso (NW Spain), covering a wide range of cultural periods (Neolithic to Late Bronze Age), have been studied by color analysis, elemental analysis of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), and molecular analysis (thermally assisted hydrolysis and methylation, THM-GC-MS), in order to identify the organic matter (OM) in the prehistoric pottery and reveal information on ceramic production techniques, food remains and post-depositional effects. Results showed that the strong marine influence (sherds recovered from coastal deposits) and microbial activity (recovery from waste deposits, “cuncheiros”) had a profound effect on C/N ratio and molecular composition (N-rich protein and chitin structures). Other organic ingredients originated from the material used for creating the ware (detected as pyrogenic OM) and possibly food remains (fatty acid fingerprints). Dark-colored ware was enriched in both pyrogenic OM from incomplete combustion and non-bacterial fatty acids. Fatty acid patterns could not be related to possible vessel use, and markers of aquatic resources were scarce, or absent. It is argued that THM-GC-MS of pottery fragments is useful for understanding how an archaeological deposit developed in time, what kinds of OM are present, and possibly to make a pre-selection of samples with high potential for more cost-demanding dietary molecular assessments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analytical Chromatography Applied to Archaeology)
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17 pages, 955 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Neutral Compound Extraction from Archaeological Residues in Pottery Using Two Methodologies: A Preliminary Study
by Eleanora A. Reber
Separations 2021, 8(1), 6; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/separations8010006 - 06 Jan 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2441
Abstract
This study compares chloroform/methanol extraction and acidic methanol extraction of neutral compounds in absorbed lipid pottery residues from fourteen archaeological sherds. Previous studies have established that fatty acid extraction is more effective with acidic methanol extraction. This study suggests that acidic methanol extraction [...] Read more.
This study compares chloroform/methanol extraction and acidic methanol extraction of neutral compounds in absorbed lipid pottery residues from fourteen archaeological sherds. Previous studies have established that fatty acid extraction is more effective with acidic methanol extraction. This study suggests that acidic methanol extraction of neutral compounds, including sterols, alkanols, alkanes, and terpenoids, is more effective than or comparable to chloroform/methanol solvent extraction in most cases. The acidic methanol method extracts sterols, terpenoids, and alkanes more effectively than or comparably to chloroform/methanol extraction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analytical Chromatography Applied to Archaeology)
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