Understanding residues of oil production: chemical analyses of floors in traditional mills

Oil production is an important aspect of ancient Mediterranean economy; therefore, archaeological studies on oil-producing installations using archaeometry and in particular the chemical analysis of absorbed residues is valuable in identifying the substances actually produced and to understand the spatial distribution of the activities carried out at oil mills.Modern contexts may provide a good reference for interpreting the archaeological chemical traces.This study examines the chemical traces in three abandoned oil mills in the Mediterranean: Polveraia (Tuscany, Italy), Martina Franca (Puglia, Italy) and Binibassi (Mallorca, Balearic Islands). To identify the residues released by the production of oil and absorbed by the floors, samples were taken from the floors of these installations and analysed using spot tests aimed at identifying the presence of fatty acids and phosphates. Some of the samples were analysed also with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The results of the analyses were plotted in the Geographic Information System (GIS) platform and interpolated with Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) to determine the spatial distribution of the residues. Overall, the results show a large presence of fats in the analysed floors in all of the installations.     

NEOLITHIC THESSALY AND THE SPORADES

Summary. Aghios Petros in the Sporades Islands is one of the earliest and most thoroughly excavated settlements in the Aegean. It was a permanent settlement of the end of the 6th millennium BC, and a unique cultural centre, with influences from Thessaly, Anatolia and the Balkans. In the present study, the degree of contacts and influence between Aghios Petros and the neighbouring well-known Neolithic settlements of Dimini and Sesklo is examined on the basis of trace element analysis by INAA. Cluster analysis, based on Th, Sc, Cs, Fe, Co and Eu, reveals distinct differences, Aghios Petros sherds forming a quite separate group. There also exist three sub-groups within the Sporades material. This result is substantiated by archaeological evidence and reinforces the view that Aghios Petros is a site of particular cultural interest and of semi-autonomous development, which flourished in the middle of the 5th millennium BC.     

Lead Isotope Analyses Revealed the Key Role of Chang'an in the Mirror Production and Distribution Network During the Han Dynasty

Chang'an (now Xi'an) was the capital of the Western Han Dynasty and the starting point of the Silk Road. In the light of the importance of Chang'an as the centre of politics, economy and cultural interaction, the overarching question proposed in this paper is focused on its role in the mirror production and distribution network during Han period. On the basis of chemical and lead isotopic analyses of 34 Han mirrors, this paper discusses the potential existence of a mirror production centre in Chang'an. Meanwhile, a comparative study with mirrors uncovered from the south‐western frontier and from Central Asian and North‐East Asian countries offers new insight into these related issues.     

Microstructural and Componential Characterization of the Plating Technology on Chinese Han Dynasty Bronze Fragments

The bronze wares of the Han Dynasty excavated in Chongqing are decorated with plating patterns, maintaining an exquisite lustre right up to modern times after the covering patina is cleared away. In this paper, a plated fragment of the Han Dynasty from the Wushan County Museum was characterized by combining optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy with X‐ray energy‐dispersive spectrometry (SEM–EDS), X‐ray fluorescence analysis (XRF), X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results showed that the bronze fragment was gilded with a ~ 3 μm thick gilded layer and a ~ 20 μm thick silvered layer. The high concentration of Hg and Hg‐rich intermetallic compounds confirmed the existence of mercury gilding/silvering technology, for example, Au₉Hg in the gilded layer and Ag₁₃Hg₇ in the silvered layer. An ordered stripe structure was observed in the gilded surface, corresponding to the formation of rod‐like, intermetallic Au–Hg compounds. Specifically, a high concentration of Au was detected in the silvered layer. The exploration of gilded/silvered bronze casts light on this ancient technology and the benefit of identifying, protecting and reproducing it.     

Studies On Lacquerwares from Between the Mid‐Warring States Period and the Mid‐Western Han Dynasty Excavated in the Changsha Region

The development of lacquerwares reached its peak between the Warring States Period and the Han Dynasty (390–87 bc ) in the Changsha region of China. By studying excavated fragments of lacquers from this period, this paper examines the constitution of various pigmented layers, such as red, black and white layers, coloured lacquer layers, namely reddish brown or reddish orange, dark‐coloured or black, and silver lacquer layers, using non‐destructive methods. In addition, the characteristics of lacquer production techniques in Changsha are also discussed in comparison with those of other regions in China during the same period of time.