Micro-Contextual Investigations of Organic Matter in the Archaeological Sedimentary Record
Channel: Recording Archaeology
Date: 2017-10-15

Here, I provide an overview of the work carried out at the Archaeological Micromorphology and Biomarker Research Lab, Tenerife, Spain. Archaeologists are implementing an increasingly wide range of high resolution geoarchaeological techniques in search of new sources of behavioural information and most of these sources are inorganic (i.e., mineral). Although in recent years there has been considerable advance in applied organic geochemistry research, there is still a considerable gap between the organic and inorganic domains of geoscience. In an attempt to bridge this gap and enrich the archaeological and paleoenvironmental records from different time periods, our research team is currently carrying out interdisciplinary investigations of archaeological sediment from different sites through a microcontextual approach that integrates soil micromorphology, spectroscopy and biomarker research. Context lies at the core of our approach, as any potential clues about food items, clothing, bedding, fuel and the natural vegetation associated with past human groups that might be concealed in the sedimentary record can only be understood within its microstratigraphic spatial and temporary framework. One of our current projects focuses on archaeological charred matter, which has a high preservation potential and is common in archaeological sedimentary deposits and combustion features. We are exploring the thermal degradation pathways of different plants and animals to identify critical stages of biomarker loss and the formation of combustion-related biomarkers or pyro-biomarkers, as well as characterizing their micromorphological counterparts. In parallel, we are exploring Palaeolithic contexts to characterize microscopic charred particles and assess the preservation potential of biomarkers in very old charred matter from different sedimentary environments.

Carolina Mallol
Department of Geography and History, University of La Laguna, Campus de Guajara, La Laguna 38071, Tenerife, Spain Instituto Universitario de Bio-orgánica Antonio González Av. Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez, 2 La Laguna 38206, Tenerife, Spain