Caratterizzazione chimica dei residui organici in archeologia. Il caso del vasellame d’uso quotidiano nella Hierapolis (Turchia) mediobizantina

Daniela Cottica, Florinda Notastefano,

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Abstract

This paper aims to present and discuss preliminary results of a recent project of organic residue analysis by GC-MS, carried out on pottery samples in coarse ware brought into light by excavations at insula 104 at Hierapolis (Phrygia, Turkey). The investigated ceramics date between the VIII and early XI centuries A.D. and represent the majority of the pottery finds retrieved in the mid-Byzantine contexts so far excavated. Analyses allowed to detect the presence of lipids of animal origin; in addition, branched and odd chain fatty acids present in some of the analysed pots, indicate a possible ruminant source for these lipids. Further data suggest the presence of milk, wine and dried food of vegetal origin (cereals) on other samples. The morphological and analytical data, combined with fabric and functional analyses already undertaken in the past, allow to put forward some preliminary hypotheses on the function and use of everyday pots in mid-Byzantine Hierapolis.