New Evidence on the Reliable Use of Stable Isotopes of Bitumen Fractions in Archaeological Research

One of the goals of archaeological studies is to determine how material goods and ideas moved among human populations, and bitumen is a worthy proxy because it has been used since prehistory. As a result, when bitumen is excavated from archaeological sites, determining its provenance is important because it sheds light on the trade and communication of populations at a given time. During the study of archaeological bitumen from coastal sites in central and southern Puglia (Italy), we observed that stable isotope ratios of saturated and aromatic fractions were incompatible with those obtained from asphaltenes, supporting the absorption of a foreign substance. Experiments showed that lipids are absorbed by bitumen and, in the case of oils, are distributed mainly in the saturated and aromatic fractions as their isotopic ratios change. The same experiments showed that the isotopic ratios of the asphaltenes do not change. Lipid absorption on the archaeological bitumen may have occurred before the bitumen was applied to the pottery, during the use of the pottery or while underground, before being excavated. These hypotheses are discussed, and it is concluded that the isotopic ratio of asphaltenes is a reliable proxy for provenance, whereas those of the saturated and aromatic fractions should be considered with caution due to possible lipid absorption. Nevertheless, they provide new information on pottery use that can be used in archaeological chemistry.

Automated summary

One of the goals of archaeology is to understand how materials and ideas were exchanged between human populations. Bitumen, a substance used since prehistoric times, is often excavated from archaeological sites and analyzing its origin helps shed light on trade and communication in the past. A study of archaeological bitumen from coastal sites in Italy revealed that stable isotope ratios differed between different fractions, suggesting the absorption of foreign substances. The study also found that lipid absorption may have occurred at different stages, including before the bitumen was applied to pottery.