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We hereby investigate the pitch used for coating three Roman amphorae from San Felice Circeo (Italy) through a multidisciplinary study. The identification of molecular biomarkers by gas chromatography—mass spectrometry is combined with archaeobotanical evidence of pollen and plant tissues of Vitis flowers. Diterpenic chemical markers together with Pinus pollen and wood revealed Pinaceae tar coating. Aporate 3-zonocolpate pollen, identified as Vitis, together with tartaric, malic and pyruvic acids elucidate the grape-fermented nature of the content. Our conclusions open new consideration on the use of grape derivatives that cannot be supported by traditional analytical methods. Based on the finds of aporate Vitis pollen, found also in local modern and Middle Pleistocene samples, we hypothesize the use of autochthonous vines. The presence of a medicinal wine (historically reported as oenanthium) is also considered. We interrogate Vitis pollen capacity to target grapevine domestication, thereby providing innovative tools to understand such an important process. We anticipate our study to encourage a more systematic multidisciplinary approach regarding the analyses of wine amphorae.

International audience; With the aim of addressing the impact of extractive protocols in molecular characterization of ceramic content, sixteen archaeological shards and waterproofing coatings of Roman amphorae were studied to compare the extractive capacities of protocols prevalently mentioned in wine amphorae analysis. A microwave-assisted protocol is developed in order to esterify grape-derivative markers from archaeological pitch and shard. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry is used to highlight the great capacities of a two-step protocol that combines organic extraction with BF3-etherate complex butylation applied on archaeological shards. Instead, simultaneous alkaline fusion and direct-resin acid-catalyzed butylation are favored for the characterization of waterproofing material. The identification of tartaric acid, together with succinic, fumaric pyruvic and syringic acids provide valuable insights on the archaeological grape-derivative content, possibly wine. Diterpenic markers highlighted Pinus pitch and wood tar, originally used to waterproof the amphorae. Since markers are reliable tools in organic residue analyses, protocols exhibiting high extractive capacities are favored to avoid false conclusions drawn through the absence of markers.

International audience; Scientific analysis has provided new evidence in historical and archaeological studies in recent years. Archaeological samples are frequently contaminated because of conservation conditions and/or cleaning before restoration. Roman amphora, made of a material of great interest, is no exception. This study develops the chemical analysis of Dressel I amphorae coming from the Châteaumeillant oppidum in France, dating from the 2nd century-1st century BC. Traces of organic matter located on the internal surface of the amphorae were identified using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). This analytical technique notably allows markers of resinous matter (pitch) and wine to be detected. Analytical results showing the presence of syringic acid, along with other wine acids (benzoic, succinic and vanillic acids) in certain amphorae in the archaeological context, demonstrated that the vessels had contained wine. Moreover, two families of resins (Pinaceae and Cupressaceae) were observed. They were used for waterproofing or as an additive to resinated wine. In particular, the observation of sandarac resin (Cupressaceae) is rare in wine amphorae.

This paper explores the colored material found on yoruba sculptures (Nigeria/Benin). These pictorial layers are little known in particular their binder, but also on the fact that plant colouring agents can be used, except usual ochre and kaolin. Colors from plants, usually observed in textile dye or in basketwork, were also used in painting. The scientific research and analysis carried out as part of this work supports this point of view. A multidisciplinary team, of chemists and a restorer, leads this study since several years. This paper aims at updating the knowledge and information of this research program.

When the research comments on the conservation of natural products, here is an integrated project around an old pharmacopoeia allowing to combine heritage conservation and technological progress. It raises a problem at the interface of conservation-restoration, humanities and chemistry within the framework of the scientific inventory of natural products belonging to the collection of the pharmacy of the former Sainte-Marthe Hospital in Avignon.This pharmacy offers a set of natural substances of a great interest because the products were kept intact since the nineteenth or even the eighteenth century. The scientific studies carried out on this collection allow the evaluation of the state of conservation of the naturally aged samples while informing on the taxonomic and pharmacological knowledge of the period.The authors wish you a good reading., A l'heure où la recherche se questionne sur la conservation des produits naturels, un projet intégré autour d’une pharmacopée ancienne permet d’allier conservation du patrimoine et avancée technologique. Il soulève une problématique à l’interface de la conservation-restauration, des sciences humaines et de la chimie dans le cadre de l’inventaire scientifique d’un ensemble de produits naturels appartenant à la collection de la pharmacie de l’Hôpital Sainte Marthe à Avignon.Cette officine offre un ensemble de substances naturelles d’un intérêt inestimable puisqu’une partie des produits a été conservée intacte depuis le XIXème voire même le XVIIIème siècle. Les études scientifiques réalisées sur cette collection autorisent l’évaluation de l’état de conservation des échantillons naturellement vieillis tout en renseignant sur les connaissances taxonomiques et pharmacologiques de l’époque.Les auteurs vous souhaitent une bonne lecture….

When the research comments on the conservation of natural products, here is an integrated project around an old pharmacopoeia allowing to combine heritage conservation and technological progress. It raises a problem at the interface of conservation-restoration, humanities and chemistry within the framework of the scientific inventory of natural products belonging to the collection of the pharmacy of the former Sainte-Marthe Hospital in Avignon.This pharmacy offers a set of natural substances of a great interest because the products were kept intact since the nineteenth or even the eighteenth century. The scientific studies carried out on this collection allow the evaluation of the state of conservation of the naturally aged samples while informing on the taxonomic and pharmacological knowledge of the period.The authors wish you a good reading., A l'heure où la recherche se questionne sur la conservation des produits naturels, un projet intégré autour d’une pharmacopée ancienne permet d’allier conservation du patrimoine et avancée technologique. Il soulève une problématique à l’interface de la conservation-restauration, des sciences humaines et de la chimie dans le cadre de l’inventaire scientifique d’un ensemble de produits naturels appartenant à la collection de la pharmacie de l’Hôpital Sainte Marthe à Avignon.Cette officine offre un ensemble de substances naturelles d’un intérêt inestimable puisqu’une partie des produits a été conservée intacte depuis le XIXème voire même le XVIIIème siècle. Les études scientifiques réalisées sur cette collection autorisent l’évaluation de l’état de conservation des échantillons naturellement vieillis tout en renseignant sur les connaissances taxonomiques et pharmacologiques de l’époque.Les auteurs vous souhaitent une bonne lecture….

The study of animal mummification in ancient Egypt has recently received increasing attention from a number of modern scholars given the fact that this part of ancient Egyptian funerary and religious history is a practice yet to be fully understood. In this study, nine samples of embalming matter were extracted from six gazelle mummies from the archaeological site of Kom Mereh (modern village of Komir), dated to the Roman period of dominance in ancient Egypt. All samples were analyzed for the presence of inorganic and organic matter applying a multi-analytical approach based on Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Furthermore, in order to identify more specific compounds such as bitumen and beeswax in studied balms, each sample was subjected to a solid phase extraction (SPE) and saponification separation process, respectively. The results of this study revealed that the majority of the analyzed embalming substances sampled from six gazelle mummies from Kom Mereh were complex mixtures of plant oils, animal fats, conifer resin, and beeswax. In this regard, this study was able to report a practice until now unmentioned in the scientific literature, namely, the use of cruciferous oil, derived from seeds of Brassicaceae plants, in animal mummification.

The work presented in this thesis focused on the analysis of archaeological vessels. Through the search for molecular markers, identified by Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry and the observation of archaeobotanical remains, this study aims to identify the original content of the studied vessels. The analysis of organic residues, both contained in the ceramic sherd and in the waterproofing layer inside the amphora, offers a first reading of the functionality of the object and its content. Particular importance is given to the botanical identification and formulation techniques used to produce a waterproofing matrix that was affixed to the inside of the amphora. The paleobotanical investigation that mainly focused on the search for pollen, brings a new angle of analysis by concentrating on the one hand on the characterization of environmental and/or economic fossil species, and on the other hand on the botanical origin of the identified pollens. In addition to the optimization of existing protocols for the extraction of molecules considered as biomarkers, this study focuses on the benefits of a multi-analytical archaeometric approach through the analysis of different archaeological artifacts from heterogeneous periods and contexts. Focusing on the Roman period, this thesis focuses on the analysis of wine and/or oil amphorae from the Planier 3 shipwreck (France) and the ancient anchorage of San Felice Circeo (Italy) before extending the methodology and the results to a "pouring" vase of singular typology dating from the Bronze Age (West Bank).

Colors are practically ubiquitous in the artistic and craft objects of the South Benin region, affiliated to the Yoruba cultural area. Apart from the usual ochres and kaolin, the paint layers of the sculptures are little known, especially in terms of their binders but also plant dyes exploited. Colors from plants, usually used in textile dyeing or wickerwork, were among others also used in painting. The mid-term of research and analysis carried out in a multidisciplinary context provided information on the techniques formerly used by artists and craftsmen as well as on the original materials used. This information is inherent in a possible restoration of old museum objects.