ORGANIC RESIDUES IN ANCIENT POTTERY SHERDS FROM SITES IN JORDAN

Abstract

This paper discusses the analysis of organic residues preserved in the fabric of twelve pottery sherds (two

Bronze Age and ten Iron Age) excavated from three sites: Jneneh, Sahab and Tell Abu al-Kharaz. Gas

chromatography-mass spectrometry was used for separation and identification of organic constituents.

Conventional solvent extraction was used for the extraction of residues preserved in their fabrics. The

analysis showed that five sherds out of the twelve preserve significant organic constituents derived from

plant and animal sources. The results inform that plant oil (most likely olive oil) could have been introduced

into four Iron Age vessels (three from Jneneh and one from Tell Abu al-Kharaz) while animal fat of

unknown source could have been introduced into one Iron Age vessel from Sahab. Evidences of the

availability and exploitation of plant materials, such as oils and animal fats during the Iron Age were also

presented in this paper.