Beyond the surface:untangling molecular complexity in organic residue analysis of coated archaeological ceramics

Mixed molecular and isotopic signals are readily encountered in organic residue analysis (ORA) of archaeological ceramics, which can impact our ability to identify the contents/use of the vessel. One reason for these mixed signals that is rarely considered is the mixture of organic products used to coat vessels and the organic products that were later contained in the ceramic vessel. Here, we apply a multifaceted ORA approach to experimental cooking vessels that were coated with a range of organic products during post-firing treatment and then used to cook a variety of organic contents. Our results show that the visibility of the coating agent or cooking commodity varies depending on the type of extraction or analytical method applied. We show that it is important to use a combination of extraction methods (acidified methanol and solvent extraction) and that both molecular and isotopic data must be considered. For the first time, we have also shown that thermal transformation markers could reflect the post-firing coating as opposed to cooking. We call on ORA specialists to carefully consider the impact of post-firing coating before interpreting residues from archaeological ceramics and to implement a multifaceted ORA approach to aid their detection

Sanctuaries and the Power of Consumption ; Kistler, Erich; Öhlinger, Birgit; Mohr, M.; Hoernes, Matthias / Indigenous cult places of local and interregional scale in archaic Sicily: a sociological approach to religion

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Akten des 15. Österreichischen Archäologentages in Innsbruck 27. Februar-1. März 2014 ; Grabherr, Gerald; Kainrath, Barbara (Hrsg.) / Ritueller Konsum am Monte Iato. Ein überregionaler Kultplatz im Binnenland des archaischen Siziliens

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Sanctuaries and the Power of Consumption ; Kistler, Erich; Öhlinger, Birgit; Mohr, M.; Hoernes, Matthias / Indigenous cult places of local and interregional scale in archaic Sicily: a sociological approach to religion

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Materielle Kultur und Identität im Spannungsfeld zwischen mediterraner Welt und Mitteleuropa / Material Culture and Identity between the Mediterranean world and Central Europe ; Baitinger, Holger / Ritual and Religion in Archaic Sicily. Indigenous Material Cultures between Tradition and Innovation

In the period of the so-called "Greek colonisation" the indigenous communities of Sicily came into close contact with different foreign groups of people. But it was not until the 6th century B.C. that these cultural contacts - especially with the settlers of the greek and Phoenician coastal cities - have left deep traces of change in the interior communities. These transformation processes affected all areas of life to a certain degree, likewise the social field of religion. The article examines the implications of these transformation processes on the cult and ritual practice of the local communities of Western and Central Sicily. Starting with the indigenous cult landscape prior to the 6th century B.C, it will be shown what kind of material expressions of ritual and religion can be determined, which belong to a traditional form of living and, therefore, to the "old world". In a second step the focus shifts to the transformation processes that lead to a "new world" and different form of cult sites. The two case studies of the indigenous settlements of Sabucina and Monte Polizzello in central Sicily (prov. Caltanissetta) clearly point out that these two "worlds" are correlated with each other and that the social field of religion played a central role in installing new power structures in the local communities.Version of recor

Materielle Kultur und Identität im Spannungsfeld zwischen mediterraner Welt und Mitteleuropa / Material Culture and Identity between the Mediterranean world and Central Europe ; Baitinger, Holger / Ritual and Religion in Archaic Sicily. Indigenous Material Cultures between Tradition and Innovation

In the period of the so-called "Greek colonisation" the indigenous communities of Sicily came into close contact with different foreign groups of people. But it was not until the 6th century B.C. that these cultural contacts - especially with the settlers of the greek and Phoenician coastal cities - have left deep traces of change in the interior communities. These transformation processes affected all areas of life to a certain degree, likewise the social field of religion. The article examines the implications of these transformation processes on the cult and ritual practice of the local communities of Western and Central Sicily. Starting with the indigenous cult landscape prior to the 6th century B.C, it will be shown what kind of material expressions of ritual and religion can be determined, which belong to a traditional form of living and, therefore, to the "old world". In a second step the focus shifts to the transformation processes that lead to a "new world" and different form of cult sites. The two case studies of the indigenous settlements of Sabucina and Monte Polizzello in central Sicily (prov. Caltanissetta) clearly point out that these two "worlds" are correlated with each other and that the social field of religion played a central role in installing new power structures in the local communities.Version of recor