Setting up a natural resin collection to identify an archaeological black pitch sample

Abstract

Natural resins are among the multiple organic materials that have been employed since the prehistory as an adhesive or varnish in the manufacturing processes and operative chains of several tool. For this study, a black pitch sample found inside an amphora was compared with several types of natural resins previously analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Different preservation states resins were collected or acquired to be analysed by GC-MS. The results obtained show the reliability and strength of the developed method, while also giving a hint about the raw material employed to coat the amphora.