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Leftovers : The presence of manufacture derived aquatic lipids in Alaskan pottery

Admiraal, Marjolein ; Lucquin, Alexandre ; Drieu, L. ; Casale, S. ; Jordan, Peter LU orcid and Craig, Oliver (2019) In Archaeometry 62(2). p.346-361
Abstract
Lipids preserved within the walls of ancient pottery vessels are routinely analysed to reveal
their original contents. The provenience of aquatic lipids in pottery is generally connected
to vessel function (e.g., for cooking or storing fish, shellfish and aquatic mammals). However,
ethnographic reports from early historic Alaska mention the use of aquatic oils for waterproofing low-fired pottery. Results of lipid residue studies on Alaskan pottery reflect an exclusive
function of pottery to process aquatic resources. However, can one be sure these residues
are the product of vessel function and not a remnant of the manufacturing process? The study
presents the results of an experiment where the preservation of... (More)
Lipids preserved within the walls of ancient pottery vessels are routinely analysed to reveal
their original contents. The provenience of aquatic lipids in pottery is generally connected
to vessel function (e.g., for cooking or storing fish, shellfish and aquatic mammals). However,
ethnographic reports from early historic Alaska mention the use of aquatic oils for waterproofing low-fired pottery. Results of lipid residue studies on Alaskan pottery reflect an exclusive
function of pottery to process aquatic resources. However, can one be sure these residues
are the product of vessel function and not a remnant of the manufacturing process? The study
presents the results of an experiment where the preservation of aquatic lipids during the firing
process at different temperatures was measured. It was found that nearly all lipids were removed at firing temperatures of ≥ 400°C. Petrographic analysis of Alaskan pottery samples
indicates that firing temperatures were generally > 550°C but < 800°C. The contribution of
pre-firing manufacture-derived lipids to samples fired at these temperatures may be regarded
as negligible. While the possible presence of aquatic lipids from post-firing surface treatments
cannot be excluded, such treatments appear unnecessary for well-fired pottery. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Archaeometry
volume
62
issue
2
pages
346 - 361
publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
external identifiers
  • scopus:85076367821
ISSN
0003-813X
DOI
10.1111/arcm.12515
project
Maritime Networks and Emergent Identities in the North Pacific Rim
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
3ed0e85e-d9aa-48b2-8038-53b945720a3e
date added to LUP
2021-08-19 11:28:14
date last changed
2022-05-12 21:25:29
@article{3ed0e85e-d9aa-48b2-8038-53b945720a3e,
  abstract     = {{Lipids preserved within the walls of ancient pottery vessels are routinely analysed to reveal<br>
their original contents. The provenience of aquatic lipids in pottery is generally connected<br>
to vessel function (e.g., for cooking or storing fish, shellfish and aquatic mammals). However,<br>
ethnographic reports from early historic Alaska mention the use of aquatic oils for waterproofing low-fired pottery. Results of lipid residue studies on Alaskan pottery reflect an exclusive<br>
function of pottery to process aquatic resources. However, can one be sure these residues<br>
are the product of vessel function and not a remnant of the manufacturing process? The study<br>
presents the results of an experiment where the preservation of aquatic lipids during the firing<br>
process at different temperatures was measured. It was found that nearly all lipids were removed at firing temperatures of ≥ 400°C. Petrographic analysis of Alaskan pottery samples<br>
indicates that firing temperatures were generally &gt; 550°C but &lt; 800°C. The contribution of<br>
pre-firing manufacture-derived lipids to samples fired at these temperatures may be regarded<br>
as negligible. While the possible presence of aquatic lipids from post-firing surface treatments<br>
cannot be excluded, such treatments appear unnecessary for well-fired pottery.}},
  author       = {{Admiraal, Marjolein and Lucquin, Alexandre and Drieu, L. and Casale, S. and Jordan, Peter and Craig, Oliver}},
  issn         = {{0003-813X}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{346--361}},
  publisher    = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
  series       = {{Archaeometry}},
  title        = {{Leftovers : The presence of manufacture derived aquatic lipids in Alaskan pottery}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/arcm.12515}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/arcm.12515}},
  volume       = {{62}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}