The Chemistry and Use of Resinous Substances

Abstract

A greater awareness of the survival of organic substances combined with increasingly sophisticated analytical techniques has been of considerable benefit to archaeologists. This chapter reviews the identification of amorphous organic substances, particularly natural plant resins and wood and bark tars that have been identified in archaeological contexts around the world. A case study highlights the preparation and use of birch bark tar in prehistoric Europe. Some substances can be routinely identified using techniques such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) whereas others, such as the routine detection of fermented beverages, still pose an analytical challenge.