Neolithic and Eneolithic activities inferred from organic residue analysis of pottery from Mala Triglavca, Moverna vas and Ajdovska jama, Slovenia

Lucija Šoberl; Milena Horvat; Andreja Žibrat Gašparič; Marko Sraka; Richard Evershed; Mihael Budja

doi:10.4312/dp.41.9

Authors

Lucija Šoberl Organic Geochemistry Unit, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol
Milena Horvat Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana
Andreja Žibrat Gašparič Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana
Marko Sraka Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana
Richard Evershed Organic Geochemistry Unit, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol
Mihael Budja Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4312/dp.41.9

Keywords:

Neolithic, Eneolithic, lipid residue analysis, pottery, stable isotopes, birch bark tar, beeswax

Abstract

The research discussed in this paper focused on the analysis and identification of organic residues either preserved as visible or absorbed organic remains on Neolithic and Eneolithic pottery from various archaeological and geographical contexts. These are connected with various food preparation strategies and past human activities, i.e. cave burials in Ajdovska jama (food as a grave good/offering), the rock shelter at Mala Triglavca (meat and dairy animal husbandry practices) and Moverna vas, which had a long occupation sequence (complex farming and animal management). The preservation of biomarkers mirrored past human activities and different pottery uses at various types of sites. The carbon stable isotope ratios of primary fatty acids in lipid pottery extracts confirmed the presence of adipose and dairy fats as well as biomarkers of plant fats, beeswax and birch bark tar.