Title of article :
Analytical pyrolysis with in situ thermally assisted derivatisation, Py(HMDS)-GC/MS, for the chemical characterization of archaeological birch bark tar
Author/Authors :
Ribechini، نويسنده , , Erika and Bacchiocchi، نويسنده , , Manuel and Deviese، نويسنده , , Thibaut and Colombini، نويسنده , , Maria Perla، نويسنده ,
Abstract :
An analytical method based on pyrolysis in the presence of hexamethyldisilazane followed by gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric analysis, Py(HMDS)-GC/MS, was used for the first time to study birch bark tar, an adhesive that has been used since the Palaeolithic period. Py(HMDS)-GC/MS enabled us to obtain information simultaneously both on polymerised and solvent soluble fractions of birch bark tar. A very particular chromatographic pattern was obtained, which was mainly characterised by the presence of homologous series of linear saturated and unsaturated monocaboxylic fatty acids, and homologous series of straight-chain alkenes and alkanes. The pattern can be linked to suberin and suberan, which are known to be present in birch barks. In addition, lupane-type triterpenoids were also revealed. Py(HMDS)-GC/MS was initially applied to a reference material, and was then used to study the archaeological adhesives from a wooden spindle recovered in a Gallo-Roman burial (3rd century AD) and from the golden sheath of a Thracian dagger (8th–7th centuries BC) recovered in Belogradets (Bulgaria).
Keywords :
Py(HMDS)-GC/MS , Suberin , Birch bark tar , Archaeological adhesives , Suberan
Journal title :
Astroparticle Physics