Preliminary study of food residues and cooking practices in the Medieval Hospital of Santa Maria della Scala in Siena (Central Italy)

El artículo trata sobre el estudio del uso de algunas cerámicas medievales y de los alimentos preparados y consumidos en el Hospital medieval del Santa Maria della Scala en Siena (Italia Central). Esta investigación muestra la integración entre los datos obtenidos con el análisis arqueológico y arqueométrico (utilizando el análisis de residuos orgánicos) de las cerámicas y la investigación sobre los documentos históricos encontrados en el mismo contexto, el hospital medieval del Santa Maria della Scala en Siena. Después del estudio arqueológico-formal, algunas cerámicas han sido seleccionadas para el análisis con cromatografía de gases acoplada a espectrometría de masas con el fin de identificar los residuos orgánicos preservados y conocer su contenido original. Los datos obtenidos han sido integrados con la información proporcionada por los documentos escritos encontrados durante el estudio del Hospital acerca de las compras y de la vida cotidiana en su interior

Análisis de residuos químicos en materiales arqueológicos: marcadores de actividades antrópicas en el pasado

La alimentación es una cuestión clave de la investigación reciente. El desarrollo de análisis de residuos químicos en materiales arqueológicos, como cerámicas, pavimentos y depósitos de instalaciones productivas, permite obtener datos fundamentales sobre la producción y el consumo de alimentos. En este texto se discuten la potencialidad y las limitaciones de las técnicas más utilizadas y se ofrece un panorama de los resultados obtenidos en diferentes casos de estudio en yacimientos de época romana y de la Antigüedad tardía del Mediterráneo occidental, con algunos ejemplos adicionales de periodos más antiguos y recientes de las penínsulas itálica e hispánica

Analisi dei residui organici e anfore medievali

Lo studio dei contenuti delle anfore romane e tardoantiche è stato uno dei primi temi affrontati durante lo sviluppo della disciplina delle analisi dei residui organici, detta anche ORA (Organic Residue Analysis) (Evershed 1993). Tuttavia, dopo un inizio promettente (tra gli altri Condamin et al. 1976; Formenti et al. 1978), per molto tempo l'analisi dei residui delle anfore è stata abbandonata

Los residuos químicos de la producción de pulque. Etnoarqueometría y arqueología experimental

Pulque was one of the most important beverages in the Central Plateau of Mesoamerica. Its consumption continued during the Colonial period and the beverage is still popular in some places, although its cultural survival is at risk in others. In this paper we present the results of experimental and ethnoarchaeological studies aimed at recognizing the chemical residues produced by pulque production and consumption in the archaeological record. Two kinds of investigations were carried out to identify the residues of pulque: first, experimental work producing "bricks" of lime mortar, simulating archaeological plastered floors that were gradually enriched with pulque during a month; second, an ethnoarchaeometrical study involved the analysis of the samples obtained from the floors of a residence in the state of Hidalgo where pulque is produced and sold. The analyses were carried out with spot tests aimed at identifying the presence of carbohydrates, phosphates, fatty acids and protein residues in the samples. The results show that the enrichment of pulque can be recognized through high values of carbohydrates. We also show the results obtained through gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis of one sample from the experimental brick of plaster

Archaeometric analysis for provenance and content of Roman amphorae from the site of Sa Mesquida (Mallorca, Spain)

This paper presents the results of an inorganic and organic approach to Roman amphorae found at the rural Roman site of Sa Mesquida (Mallorca). A set of amphorae were discovered in some rooms of the earlier phases of the villa. These amphorae were assigned to a general Tarraconensian and Italic provenance on a macroscopic level. In order to verify this and to accurately determine the provenance an archaeometric characterization was carried out on twelve amphorae. The analytical approach combined wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WD-XRF) for the chemical analysis, as well as powder x-ray diffraction (XRD) and optical microscopy by thin-section analysis (OM) for the mineralogical and petrographic characterization. In addition, organic residue analysis by gas-chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was applied to investigate the content of some of the amphorae for which wine was suggested on an archaeological basis. The results have allowed for a better provenance determination identifying some amphorae from specific workshops or micro-regions within ancient Tarraconensis, as well as a better definition of the Italic materials. The organic analysis has confirmed the presence of wine in the analysed samples

Los residuos químicos. Indicadores arqueológicos para entender la producción, preparación, consumo y almacenamiento de alimentos en mesoamérica

ResumenLa alimentación es uno de los temas que recientemente ha merecido mayor atención en el medio antropológico. El trabajo aquí presentado propone una nueva forma de aproximarse al estudio de la alimentación en el pasado. Esto es a partir de un indicador que resulta invisible e intangible ya que se aprovecha la información proporcionada por los residuos químicos atrapados y preservados en los poros de materiales como los pisos y las cerámicas. Para poder interpretar esta información se hace necesario contar con datos de referencia acumulados a partir de estudios etnoarqueológicos y de experimentos en el laboratorio bajo condiciones controladas. El trabajo realizado en las últimas tres décadas permite ahora aproximarnos al estudio de los espacios arquitectónicos utilizados para preparar los alimentos, a la identificación de los recipientes utilizados para su almacenamiento o preparación y en ocasiones a la identificación de sustancias remanentes de los alimentos originales.AbstractFood practices has been one of the themes that have recently deserved more attention in anthropology. The paper suggests a new way of approaching the study of food practices in the past, based on an indicator not visible nor tangible: the information provided by the chemical residues preserved inside the pores of materials such as floors and ceramics. To interpret this information it is necessary take into account reference data that come from ethnoarchaeological and experimental studies carried out in controlled conditions in the laboratory. The work carried out during the last three decades allows approaching the study of architectural spaces used for food preparation, the identification of ceramics used for storage or cooking and sometimes the identification of the food originally processed

Wood exploitation and food supply at the border of the Roman Empire: the case of the vicus of Thamusida - Sidi Ali ben Ahmed (Morocco)

This paper presents the results of inter-disciplinary work drawing on archaeobotanical and archaeometric studies to trace the agroforestry landscape and the supply economy at the vicus of Thamusida in north-west Morocco at the border of the Roman Empire. The available data indicate the self-sufficiency of the settlement in both forestry and agricultural products throughout the period investigated from the end of the 1st century BC to the beginning of the 4th century AD. Charcoal data testify to the presence of a Quercus suber forest in the close surroundings of the site and its exploitation for a variety of forestry products such as timber, fuelwood, cork, and probably also leaves and acorns to feed livestock. The overwhelming presence of Q. suber in the archaeological layer investigated clearly indicates that this forest was under human influence prior to Roman occupation and was already partially degraded. Charred seed and fruit remains suggest that the diet of both troops and civilians was mainly based on locally grown products and that all the inhabitants of the site had access to good cereals such as barley, naked wheats and pulses with large seeds such as horse bean and pea; quality fruits, such as olive and grape, were also produced locally for fresh consumption. Organic residue analyses of the contents of ceramic vessels and plastered vats allowed archaeobotanical data to be complemented, thereby shedding light on some of the imports at Thamusida. Despite the remote location of this settlement, imported goods such as oil and wine were transported here in amphorae from different parts of the Empire

Combining residue analysis of floors and ceramics for the study of activity areas at the Garum Shop at Pompeii

In this paper, we propose the application for the first time in the Mediterranean area of the combination of the study of chemical residues in floors and ceramics, with the aim of providing information about the activities carried out in archeological buildings. We chose the Garum Shop at Pompeii to test the method. In fact, due to the peculiarity of this archeological context, it provided an ideal case in which the activities performed are in part known, and the ceramic vessels recovered are still in situ. Floor samples were studied by means of spot tests developed in Mexico aimed at identifying the presence of phosphates, fatty acids, and protein residues, while the organic residues preserved in the ceramic matrix of amphorae, dolia, and other ceramic vessels were studied by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Moreover, we integrated the data obtained with specific studies directed at better identifying the solid residues found inside two of the amphorae studied: botanical studies of fruit stones recovered in a Dressel 20 amphora and the characterization of the lime preserved in an African amphora. The research allowed for the identification of the traces of some of the activities performed, such as cooking and producing garum in the floors of the building, and the use and re-use of amphorae and dolia before the Vesuvian eruption

Georadar investigations in the central nave of Hagia Sofia, Istanbul (Turkey)

Within an interdisciplinary project to study Istanbul's Hagia Sofia, a georadar survey was carried out in the central nave to assess if the deformations of the structure previously observed could be related to a differential behavior of the subsoil caused by architectural remains underneath. This study faces an unusual challenge since it was necessary to study the space beneath the scaffolding placed for the restoration works. The survey of the central nave was successful and allowed the detection of remains of walls that probably formed the basement of a previous 18- by 22-m structure. In addition, another interesting feature was discovered 2 m below the marble mosaic in the southeastern part of the nave. Although it is not possible to define its function, it seems that there could be a close relationship between this 2- by 3-m buried structure and the marble mosaic in the floor surface. Although some structures were identified under the floor of Hagia Sofia, there are no major changes in the topography of the central nave floor

Non-Destructive Multi-Analytical Approach to Study the Pigments of Wall Painting Fragments Reused in Mortars from the Archaeological Site of Pompeii (Italy)

During the excavations carried out in Via di Mercurio (Regio VI, 9, 3) in Pompeii, in 2015, some red, green, black, and brown wall painting fragments were found in the preparatory layer of an ancient pavement which was probably built after the 62 AD earthquake. These fragments, derived from the rubble, were used as coarse aggregate to prepare the mortar for building the pavement. The wall painting fragments are exceptionally well preserved, which is an uncommon occurrence in the city of Pompeii. However, as they were enclosed in the mortar, the wall painting fragments were protected from the high temperatures (probably ranging between 180 ◦C and 380 ◦C) produced by the eruption in 79 AD. The pigmented outer surface of each sample was analyzed using a non-destructive multi-analytical approach, by combining spectrophotometric colorimetry and portable X-ray fluorescence with micro-Raman spectroscopy. The compositional characterization of the samples revealed the presence of cuprorivaite, goethite, and celadonite in the green pigments; hematite in the red pigments; goethite in the brown pigment; and charcoal in the black pigment. These data probably provide us with the most "faithful picture" of the various red, green, black, and brown pigments used in Pompeii prior to the 79 AD eruptio