Papers by Léa Drieu
Because they hold information about cultural identity, foodways have been the focus of a variety ... more Because they hold information about cultural identity, foodways have been the focus of a variety of disciplines in archaeology. However, each approach documents different stages of culinary preparation and is constrained by the preservation specificities of each type of artefact and ecofact. Difficulties in achieving an interdisciplinary approach may explain the scarcity of such studies. In this paper, we propose a methodology that combines archaeozoological, carpological and microbotanical analysis of ecofacts retrieved in the sediment, with use-alteration, organic residue and microbotanical analysis carried out on pottery vessels, recovered during the excavation of a XX th century archaeological dump site in Lower Casamance (Senegal). The results demonstrate the strength of this multiproxy approach in reconstructing past foodways by characterising the importance of aquatic, terrestrial animals and plant products in the Diola Kassa diet. In addition, this study questions the modalities of food transformation by assessing the preparation techniques of animal and vegetal products (cutting marks, heating processes etc.) and the function of pottery vessels (transport, storage, cooking etc.). Aquatic products and rice were a significant part of the diet of the users of the dump (from archaeozoology, carpology, phytoliths and organic residue analysis) and wet cooking (boiling?), salty and acidic foods seem to have been particularly prevalent (from use-alteration). The absence of specific animal and plant parts in the archaeological record, as well as some pottery function, is also questioned. Beyond gathering the results of each approach, this study focuses on the interweaving of different research methods to depict past foodscape.
There’s more to a vessel than meets the eye: Organic residue analysis of ‘wine’ containers from shipwrecks and settlements of ancient Cyprus (4th–1st century BCE)
Archaeometry 64 , 2021
Despite growing evidence to the contrary, wine remains
the assumed content of many types of anc... more Despite growing evidence to the contrary, wine remains
the assumed content of many types of ancient pottery.
Vessels from the Kyrenia and Mazotos shipwrecks, and
Yeronisos island presumed to have contained wine
were subjected to three different extraction protocols to
test the assumption that these vessels were used to
import and serve wine. Chemical extracts reveal grapevine
products but also other fruit juice, beeswax and
plant oil, sometimes mixed with grapevine products
due to intentional mixing or reuse. Biomarkers detected
in sediment samples from Mazotos and Yeronisos demonstrate
why quantification is vital. Analyses show that
even seemingly identical ceramics from the same shipwreck
contained different commodities.
Reference: Briggs, L., Demesticha, S., Katzev, S., Wylde Swiny, H., Craig, O. E., & Drieu, L. (2021). There’s more to a vessel than meets the eye: Organic residue analysis of ‘wine’ containers from shipwrecks and settlements of ancient Cyprus (4th–1st century BCE). Archaeometry, 64, 779-797. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/arcm.12747
Author response for "There’s more to a vessel than meets the eye: organic residue analysis of ‘wine’ containers from shipwrecks and settlements of ancient Cyprus (4 th ‐1 st century BCE)
A pottery biography: considering the entire lifecycle of a pot in organic residue analysis
ArchéoSciences, 2020
Over the past thirty years, the study of the exploitation of natural substances by ancient societ... more Over the past thirty years, the study of the exploitation of natural substances by ancient societies has been a major focus of organic residue analysis in ceramics. However, the mechanisms controlling the absorption and preservation of organic matter within the walls of pottery at all stages of a vessel’s lifecycle are still very poorly understood. Organic and mineral composition of the paste, surface treatments, porosity, environmental conditions of disposal of the vessel are likely to influence the organic signal preserved over time. Storage conditions of the archaeo logical material can also affect the preservation of organic matter after excavation. Recent studies are beginning to address these issues, and the first results are already refining the interpretations of organic residue analysis and opening up new fields of investigation, particularly with regard to the study of the ceramic manufacturing chaîne opératoire, burial environments and potential contamination.
Archaeometry
Lipids preserved within the walls of ancient pottery vessels are routinely analysed to reveal the... more Lipids preserved within the walls of ancient pottery vessels are routinely analysed to reveal their original contents. The provenience of aquatic lipids in pottery is generally connected to vessel function (e.g., for cooking or storing fish, shellfish and aquatic mammals). However, ethnographic reports from early historic Alaska mention the use of aquatic oils for waterproofing low-fired pottery. Results of lipid residue studies on Alaskan pottery reflect an exclusive function of pottery to process aquatic resources. However, can one be sure these residues are the product of vessel function and not a remnant of the manufacturing process? The study presents the results of an experiment where the preservation of aquatic lipids during the firing process at different temperatures was measured. It was found that nearly all lipids were removed at firing temperatures of ≥ 400°C. Petrographic analysis of Alaskan pottery samples indicates that firing temperatures were generally > 550°C but < 800°C. The contribution of pre-firing manufacture-derived lipids to samples fired at these temperatures may be regarded as negligible. While the possible presence of aquatic lipids from post-firing surface treatments cannot be excluded, such treatments appear unnecessary for well-fired pottery.
Chemical evidence for the persistence of wine production and trade in Early Medieval Islamic Sicily
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2021
Although wine was unquestionably one of the most important commodities traded in the Mediterranea... more Although wine was unquestionably one of the most important commodities traded in the Mediterranean during the Roman Empire, less is known about wine commerce after its fall and whether the trade continued in regions under Islamic control. To investigate, here we undertook systematic analysis of grapevine products in archaeological ceramics, encompassing the chemical analysis of 109 transport amphorae from the fifth to the eleventh centuries, as well as numerous control samples. By quantifying tartaric acid in relation to malic acid, we were able to distinguish grapevines from other fruit-based products with a high degree of confidence. Using these quantitative criteria, we show beyond doubt thatwine continued to be traded through Sicily during the Islamic period. Wine was supplied locally within Sicily but also exported from Palermo to ports under Christian control. Such direct evidence supports the notion that Sicilian merchants continued to capitalize on profitable Mediterranean trade networks during the Islamic period, including the trade in products prohibited by the Islamic hadiths, and that the relationship between wine and the rise of Islam was far from
straightforward.
A Neolithic without dairy? Chemical evidence from the content of ceramics from the Pendimoun rock-shelter (Castellar, France, 5750-5150 BCE)
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2021
The early phases of Neolithic expansion in the Central and Western Mediterranean are relatively p... more The early phases of Neolithic expansion in the Central and Western Mediterranean are relatively poorly understood with regards to the diversity in the subsistence economy and the degree of interaction with indigenous hunter-gatherers. Recent analysis of pottery manufacturing techniques also points to a surprisingly diverse range of practices across the region. Here, we explore the use of pottery during the early phases of the Neolithic in the North-western Mediterranean, through analysis of organic residues absorbed in the pots of the Pendimoun rockshelter (Impresso-Cardial complex) in South-eastern France. Using molecular and single-compounds stable carbon isotopes analyses, our study reveals that the majority of pots were used for processing wild or domesticated ruminant carcase fats, although lipids derived from cereals and wild non-ruminant fats, such as hares, cannot be excluded. In addition, a few of the earlier Impressa vessels showed the presence of beeswax and porcine fats. Correlations between the contents of the vessels and their volume were found, suggesting that vessels were manufactured for specific uses. Only one vessel from the Cardial phase showed evidence of dairy fats strengthening the notion that milk was not heavily or systematically exploited by the earliest Neolithic populations of the Mediterranean. Overall, however, our study calls for more detailed regional investigations to fully understand the transition to farming according to the local landscape and environmental context.
Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at https://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=ysta20 STAR: Science & Technology of Archaeological Research, 2020
Chemical analysis of archaeological artefacts is used with increasing regularity to understand ho... more Chemical analysis of archaeological artefacts is used with increasing regularity to understand how wine was produced, traded, and consumed in the past and to shed light on its antiquity. Based both on an extensive review of the published literature and on new analyses, here we critically evaluate the diverse range of methodological approaches that have been used for wine identification. Overall, we conclude that currently none of the proposed chemical 'biomarkers' for wine provide unequivocal evidence. Nevertheless, valid interpretations may be offered if systematically supported by additional contextual data, such as archaeobotanical evidence. We found the extraction and detection method to be particularly crucial for successful identification. We urge the use of controls and quantification to rule out false positives. DNA sequencing offers potential for identifying wine and provides much higher taxonomic resolution, but work is needed to determine the limits of DNA survival on artefacts.
Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory, 2019
Post-firing treatments, produced by the interaction of an organic material with the hot surface o... more Post-firing treatments, produced by the interaction of an organic material with the hot surface of a ceramic, are frequently described in ethnographic literature, but have rarely been identified in archaeological ceramic assemblages. In order to address this question, this paper describes a methodology that combines macro-and microscopic observation and molecular analysis. The study of experimental ceramic vessels provided diagnostic tools to identify the type of substances, their liquid or solid state, and their mode of application and attested that the post-firing treatments do not completely waterproof the ceramics. The difficulty to observe macro-and microscopic evidence of post-firing treatments when pots are fired in reducing atmosphere suggests that these processes are probably underestimated in archaeological assemblages. Furthermore, the identification of molecular thermal transformation markers, such as ketones, calls into question their classical interpretation as markers for the cooking of fatty content. This pioneering work highlights the complexity of studying post-firing treatments, which leave small traces that are easily missed or misinterpreted. In order to address this issue, we propose a multi-analytical approach, which can serve as a basis for future studies to explore the full diversity of post-firing treatments mentioned in ethnoarchaeological literature.
M. Carver, A. Molinari, V. Aniceti, C. Capelli, F. Colangeli, L. Drieu, G. Fiorentino, F. Giovannini, M. Hummler, J. Lundy, A. Meo, A. Monnereau, P. Orecchioni, M. Primavera, A. Ughi (2019): "SICILY IN TRANSITION New research on early medieval Sicily, 2017-2018" FOLD&R Fasti On Line Documents & Research, 437, 2019
Il testo che segue riguarda la nostra ricerca archeologica sulla Sicilia bizantina, islamica e no... more Il testo che segue riguarda la nostra ricerca archeologica sulla Sicilia bizantina, islamica e normanno-sveva e in particolare riporta le ultime scoperte a Castronovo di Sicilia, che includono il riconoscimento di una chiesa del XII-XIII secolo sul Monte Kassar, la continuazione dello scavo a Casale San Pietro e una sintesi delle nuove ricognizioni nelle sue vicinanze. Quest’ultimo sito rimane il focus principale del Progetto ERC sictransit, ma in questa sede diamo anche conto dei primi risultati di un’indagine più ampia, che include una grossa quantità di reperti che provengono da tutta la Sicilia da siti scavati in precedenza (Fig 1). Questi reperti consistino in ceramiche, metalli e vetri assieme a resti umani, animali e vegetali, che vengono analizzati nei laboratori delle università partner del progetto: York, Roma e Lecce. I principali metodi scientifici applicati sono: analisi tipologiche, petrografiche e del contenuto organico delle ceramiche da cucina e da tra-sporto; degli isotopi stabili e del DNA antico sui resti umani e animali per determinare la dieta e l’ascendenza genetica; infine la identificazione tassonomica e la caratterizzazione isotopica degli insiemi di resti botanici per comprendere le loro relazioni con il clima e con le diverse fasi storiche. Il progetto “Sicily in Transition” (acronym: Sictransit) combina quindi ricerche archeologiche, bioarcheologiche e biomolecolari in un unico progetto integrato. Gli obiettivi attesi sono stati suddivisi, per comodità e chiarezza, in tre principali aree di studio, vale a dire: agricoltura (e cibo), scambi e demografia. Infine concludiamo con una valutazione della ricerca svolta sul campo e delle prospettive di indagine dei tre laboratori
Influence of porosity on lipid preservation in the wall of archaeological pottery
Archaeometry
Porosity of archaeological pottery is a key parameter used to assess its ability to trap lipids d... more Porosity of archaeological pottery is a key parameter used to assess its ability to trap lipids during the use of the pot and to preserve them over time. Mercury intrusion porosimetry and gas chromatography were used to study the distribution of porosity and the preservation of lipids in different chrono-cultural contexts. The data obtained show that the porosity pattern, related to the raw materials and the savoir-faire of the potters, influences the amount of lipids accumulated in the pottery. A significant overall porosity together with a high level of small pores is generally favourable for the preservation of lipids, but variations related
to the environmental context are observed.
The role of pottery in Middle Neolithic societies of western Mediterranean (Sardinia, Italy, 4500-4000 cal BC) revealed through an integrated morphometric, use-wear, biomolecular and isotopic approach (Journal of Archaeological Science, 93, 110-128)
Journal of Archaeological Science, 2018
The use of pottery in the Early Neolithic communities of Western Mediterranean has begun to be ad... more The use of pottery in the Early Neolithic communities of Western Mediterranean has begun to be addressed by recent studies concerning the residues of dietary commodities in potsherds. In order to contribute to a broader perspective on the issue of pottery function, we investigate pottery assemblages through an integrated methodology, combining the study of vessel morphology and morphometry, use-wear analysis, biomolecular and compound-specific carbon isotopic analysis of residues. We focus on the use of pottery containers by advanced Middle Neolithic societies of Sardinia (Italy, 4500-4000 cal BC), protagonists of significant technical, economic and cultural changes in the completion of Neolithisation in this island. The aims are to elucidate the role of whole pottery assemblages in technical and socioeconomic systems of Middle Neolithic communities and to provide data on the exploitation of animal and plant resources during this phase.
Based on the integrated combination of data, six categories of vessel use are identified. The results reveal a differential integration of vessels in activities related to the exploitation of distinct kinds of resources (ruminant adipose/dairy fats and plant foods vs. non-ruminant and aquatic products) and highlight specific behaviours of Middle Neolithic societies in selecting pottery morphotypes for different uses, notably in processing products with heating.
Domestic activities and pottery use in the Iron Age Corsican settlement of Cuciurpula revealed by organic residue analysis
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2018
The excavation of the protohistoric site of Cuciurpula (South Corsica, France) revealed a signifi... more The excavation of the protohistoric site of Cuciurpula (South Corsica, France) revealed a significant amount of potsherds, often bearing visible surface crusts, sometimes very thick. This exceptional case in the Mediterranean region, suggesting a good preservation of organic substances, provided a unique opportunity to address questions related to pottery function and natural organic substances exploited in Corsica during the first half of the 1st millennium BC. The molecular analysis (GC and GC/MS) of organic residues from three houses of the site, preserved in both pottery walls and charred surface crusts, highlighted the wide diversity and the various roles of substances contained and processed in ceramic vessels: animal fats, plant oils and waxes, beeswax, and conifer resin. These molecular data, considered together with the shapes of the vessels and their location into the habitation units, revealed the diversity of pottery function (culinary and technical) and spatial organisation of domestic activities between houses or in a house (distinction between storage and cooking areas).
Combined approach of FT-Raman, SERS and IR micro-ATR spectroscopies to enlighten ancient technologies of painted and varnished works of art
Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 2014
The characterization of materials involved in painted works of art provides a better knowledge of... more The characterization of materials involved in painted works of art provides a better knowledge of artworks through the understanding of artistic and technological processes. In this study, some pieces selected from a large corpus of French Decorative Arts objects from 18th century museum collections were analyzed. These materials are complex system made of a multilayered colored background, covered with varnish layers. Colored or gilded ornaments are applied, representing different characters, flowers or landscapes, then varnished again. The aim of this study was to improve the painting and varnishing techniques knowledge in the Decorative Arts field during the 18th century. Vibrational spectroscopies, Raman, surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and infrared, were used to analyze some specific parts of these objects, especially organic materials such as lake pigments, binders and varnishes, and some of them were identified. For this purpose, a set of experimental setups and parameters were used according to the samples. The performed analyses were thus done using conventional FT-Raman at 1064 nm, SERS with a 458 nm excitation wavelength, infrared using a micro-ATR mode, and by defining for each technique and each analysed sample the best set of analytical parameters. The results obtained are all complementary and allowed us to completely identify and characterize multilayered paint systems as well as varnish compositions using specific data treatment methodology. This study is a description of the various possibilities that vibrational spectroscopies can provide when the right settings are employed, with a deeper look into the vibrational features using new data treatments.
Substances naturelles liées aux céramiques archéologiques
Les nouvelles de l'archéologie, 2015
Grâce aux recherches en archéologie biomoléculaire, la connaissance des substances naturelles con... more Grâce aux recherches en archéologie biomoléculaire, la connaissance des substances naturelles conservées sous forme de résidus organiques amorphes a fait des progrès considérables ces dernières années, passant d’observations et analyses ponctuelles à des recherches de fond basées sur l’étude de séries archéologiques conséquentes. Molécules parmi les plus stables face aux divers mécanismes de dégradation, les lipides ont été l’objet de la majorité de ces recherches, en particulier dans les récipients céramiques qui constituent une matrice de conservation privilégiée. Des problématiques d’exploitation des ressources naturelles mais aussi les aspects fonctionnels et techniques (réparation, imperméabilisation, etc.) des récipients céramiques ont ainsi pu être développées grâce l’élaboration de stratégies d’analyse adossées à des questionnements archéologiques précis. Par la combinaison d’analyses structurales et isotopiques, de multiples substances ont ainsi pu être identifiées : produits laitiers, cire d’abeille, matières grasses animales, huiles végétales, boissons fermentées, substances d’origine marine, résines et goudrons végétaux, cacao, etc. Tout l’enjeu des recherches futures va être d’exploiter le potentiel informatif de nouveaux marqueurs, qu’ils soient structuraux ou isotopiques mais aussi de coupler ces approches analytiques avec la recherche de micro- et macrorestes potentiellement piégés dans les céramiques de façon à diversifier la gamme des substances naturelles identifiables.
Through research in biomolecular archaeology, the knowledge of the natural products preserved as amorphous organic residues has been significantly developped over the past few decades, from observations and occasional analysis to deep study based on large archaeological collections. Among the most stable molecules, lipids have been fully investigated, particularly those found in ceramic jars, a matrix in which they are well preserved. Research about exploitation of natural ressources and functional and technical (repair, sealing etc.) aspects of ceramic jars have been carried out by developping analytical strategy in connection with specific achaeological issues. Numerous natural substances have been identified by combining structural analysis and istopic measurements : dairy products, beeswax, animal fats, vegetable oil, fermented beverages, marine substances, resins, plant tar, cocoa etc. In the future, the challenge will be to explore the structural and isotopic potential of new markers, but also to combine these analytical approachs with micro- and macroresidue studies with the aim of diversifying the range of identifiable natural substances.
French lacquers of the 18th century and vernis Martin
The Martin family created a taste for Parisian lacquers, painted and varnished objects. The purpo... more The Martin family created a taste for Parisian lacquers, painted and varnished objects. The purpose of the work presented here was to gather new data on the construction materials, and to detail the varnishing and painting techniques used on these types of objects during the 18th century in France. A large body of French lacquers was studied using a comprehensive approach combining examinations, physico-chemical analyses and a reconstruction of the manufacturing steps used to create the artworks. Parisian lacquers are complex objects, consisting of a succession of five or six levels with specific functions, themselves made up of several layers, and detailed in successive phases during the creation process.
Posters by Léa Drieu
Conference Presentations by Léa Drieu
Technical behaviours of the first farmers in the north-western Mediterranean: an integrated approach to ceramic production and consumption from Arene Candide Cave
UISPP, 2018
Early Western Mediterranean Impressed Wares (Early 6th millennium BCE): new interdisciplinary research on pottery paste processing at Pendimoun rock-shelter (Alpes-Maritimes, France)
EMAC, 2017
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Papers by Léa Drieu
the assumed content of many types of ancient pottery.
Vessels from the Kyrenia and Mazotos shipwrecks, and
Yeronisos island presumed to have contained wine
were subjected to three different extraction protocols to
test the assumption that these vessels were used to
import and serve wine. Chemical extracts reveal grapevine
products but also other fruit juice, beeswax and
plant oil, sometimes mixed with grapevine products
due to intentional mixing or reuse. Biomarkers detected
in sediment samples from Mazotos and Yeronisos demonstrate
why quantification is vital. Analyses show that
even seemingly identical ceramics from the same shipwreck
contained different commodities.
Reference: Briggs, L., Demesticha, S., Katzev, S., Wylde Swiny, H., Craig, O. E., & Drieu, L. (2021). There’s more to a vessel than meets the eye: Organic residue analysis of ‘wine’ containers from shipwrecks and settlements of ancient Cyprus (4th–1st century BCE). Archaeometry, 64, 779-797. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/arcm.12747
straightforward.
to the environmental context are observed.
Based on the integrated combination of data, six categories of vessel use are identified. The results reveal a differential integration of vessels in activities related to the exploitation of distinct kinds of resources (ruminant adipose/dairy fats and plant foods vs. non-ruminant and aquatic products) and highlight specific behaviours of Middle Neolithic societies in selecting pottery morphotypes for different uses, notably in processing products with heating.
Through research in biomolecular archaeology, the knowledge of the natural products preserved as amorphous organic residues has been significantly developped over the past few decades, from observations and occasional analysis to deep study based on large archaeological collections. Among the most stable molecules, lipids have been fully investigated, particularly those found in ceramic jars, a matrix in which they are well preserved. Research about exploitation of natural ressources and functional and technical (repair, sealing etc.) aspects of ceramic jars have been carried out by developping analytical strategy in connection with specific achaeological issues. Numerous natural substances have been identified by combining structural analysis and istopic measurements : dairy products, beeswax, animal fats, vegetable oil, fermented beverages, marine substances, resins, plant tar, cocoa etc. In the future, the challenge will be to explore the structural and isotopic potential of new markers, but also to combine these analytical approachs with micro- and macroresidue studies with the aim of diversifying the range of identifiable natural substances.
Posters by Léa Drieu
Conference Presentations by Léa Drieu