Sourcing archaeological bitumen in the Olmec region |
| |
Authors: | Carl J Wendt Shan-Tan Lu |
| |
Institution: | 1. Department of Anthropology, California State University – Fullerton, P.O. Box 6846, Fullerton, CA 92834-6846, USA;2. Zymax Forensics, Inc., 71 Zaca Lane, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-7300, USA |
| |
Abstract: | Prehispanic Mesoamerican peoples collected, processed, and used bitumen for decoration, sealant, and adhesive. Among the earliest to do so were the Olmec (1200–500 b.c.) of Mexico's southern Gulf coastal lowlands. Geochemical analysis of bitumen from Olmec archaeological contexts as well as from seeps in the Olmec region reveals that seeps can be geochemically differentiated and can be correlated with archaeological samples. Groups of sites with chemically different archaeological bitumen indicate multiple procurement networks reflecting complex regional systems of exchange and interaction. Organic geochemical analysis of bitumen provides a new tool to study procurement strategies and exchange patterns in Mesoamerica. |
| |
Keywords: | Olmec Bitumen Mesoamerica Source analysis Petroleum geochemistry GC/MS |
本文献已被 ScienceDirect 等数据库收录! |
|