Studies in organic archaeometry II1: analysis of the ancient content of a flask excavated in Troia
Year: 2001
Type: article
Abstract: Potsherds of a flask excavated in the ruins of a Late Bronze Age house of Troia VI were analyzed for the ancient content.Traces of lipids were found and analyzed by capillary gas chromatography: lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid and oleic acid were identified -a mixture in which palmitic and stearic acid were the major components.All of these compounds survived predominantly as free fatty acids as well as in form of their salts.Since the form of the flask with a narrow mouth only allowed its use for keeping liquids, it can be assumed that the ancient content was either olive oil or milk; and the presence of lowerchain fatty acids is giving preference to milk.
Source: ARKIVOC
Institutions: TU Wien, University of Tübingen
Language: English
Subfield: Archeology (arts and humanities)
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2165082500