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Chemical analysis to identify organic compounds in pre-Columbian monumental earthen architecture

Year 2013, Volume: 3 Issue: 1, 39 - 45, 23.07.2016

Yuko Kita Annick Daneels Alfonso Romo De Vivar

Abstract

In 2012 we started a program of chemical analysis on organic extracts of 14 samples of fills, adobes, floors and renders, dated AD 200–400, obtained during the excavations of monumental earthen buildings at the archaeological site of La Joya, Veracruz, Mexico, located on the humid tropical coastal plain of the Gulf of Mexico. The interest in identifying organic additives derives from the observation that the conservation conditions of buildings is better than expected, considering the mineral composition of construction materials in which smectite (montmorillonite), an expansive clay, dominates. This brought us to suspect the presence of certain compounds which served as consolidant and/or water-repellent. The organic compounds from the building samples are extracted in hexane and methanol, and analyzed by Thin Layer Chromatography [TLC], Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy [FTIR], Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy [NMR] (1H and 13C) and Mass Spectrometry [MS] (Fast Atom Bombardment [FAB+]). The results of these analyses confirm the presence of the same organic compounds in all samples, especially more abundant in adobe samples. The compounds identified up to now are hydrocarbons, a triglyceride and a sugar. At the same time, the mucilage of plants used in the vernacular construction in humid tropical environments in Central America is analyzed using a similar process in order to compare it with the organic substances of the original materials. The importance of identifying additives in pre-Columbian earthen buildings resides not only in understanding what made a tradition of earth construction possible in humid tropical environments, which contributes to the history of technology, but also in the possible use of such an additive in the conservation of archaeological remains, as well as in modern construction

Keywords

organic additives archaeology Veracruz México Classic Period adobe Nuclear

References

  • Barton, G.A. (1926) On Binding-Reeds, Bitumen, and Other Commodities in Ancient Babylonia. Journal of the American Oriental Society, 46: 297-302.
  • Belt, S.C. (1971) Veracruz ceramic techniques. In Ethnic Arts Council of Los Angeles (ed.) Ancient Art of Veracruz (pp. 38–41). Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History.
  • Daneels, A. (2006) La cerámica del Clásico en Veracruz, 0-1000 d.Cr. In B. L. Merino Carrión and Á. García Cook (eds.) La producción alfarera en el México Antiguo, Volumen II; La Alfarería durante el Clásico 100-700 d.Cr. (pp. 393-504). Colección Científica, Serie Arqueología no. 495. México, D.F., Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia.
  • Daneels, A. & Guerrero-Baca L.F. (2011) Millenary Earthen Architecture in the Tropical Lowlands of Mexico.APT Bulletin 42 (1): 11-18.
  • Forbes, R. J. (1936) Bitumen and Petroleum in Antiquity. Leiden: E. J. Brill.
  • Hollander, D., Schwartz, M. (2000) Annealing, distilling, reheating and recycling: bitumen processing in the Ancient Near East. Paléorient, 26 (2): 83-91.
  • Liberotti, G. &Daneels, A. (2012) Técnicas constructivas en tierra: reconstrucción 3D y análisis químico-físicos en los sitios de La Joya (México) y Arslantepe (Turquía). Boletín de la Sociedad Geológica Mexicana 64 (1): 79-89. (http://boletinsgm.igeolcu.unam.mx)
  • O’Connor, J. (1973) The Adobe Book. Santa Fe, NM: Ancient City Press.
  • Ohi, K. &Girón, I. (2000) Los muros de morteros y los materiales para la restauración de la arquitectura de tierra en la zona Casa Blanca.In K. Ohi (ed.) Chalchuapa, Informe de la investigación interdisciplinaria de El Salvador (1995- 2000) (pp. 262-266). Kyoto, Japan: Kyoto University of Foreign Studies.
  • Taylor, J.E. (1855) Notes on Abu Shahrein and Tel el Lahm. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, 15: 404-415.
  • Wendt, C. J. & A. Cyphers (2008) How the Olmec Used Bitumen in Ancient Mesoamerica. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 27(2):175-191.

Year 2013, Volume: 3 Issue: 1, 39 - 45, 23.07.2016

Yuko Kita Annick Daneels Alfonso Romo De Vivar

Abstract

References

  • Barton, G.A. (1926) On Binding-Reeds, Bitumen, and Other Commodities in Ancient Babylonia. Journal of the American Oriental Society, 46: 297-302.
  • Belt, S.C. (1971) Veracruz ceramic techniques. In Ethnic Arts Council of Los Angeles (ed.) Ancient Art of Veracruz (pp. 38–41). Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History.
  • Daneels, A. (2006) La cerámica del Clásico en Veracruz, 0-1000 d.Cr. In B. L. Merino Carrión and Á. García Cook (eds.) La producción alfarera en el México Antiguo, Volumen II; La Alfarería durante el Clásico 100-700 d.Cr. (pp. 393-504). Colección Científica, Serie Arqueología no. 495. México, D.F., Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia.
  • Daneels, A. & Guerrero-Baca L.F. (2011) Millenary Earthen Architecture in the Tropical Lowlands of Mexico.APT Bulletin 42 (1): 11-18.
  • Forbes, R. J. (1936) Bitumen and Petroleum in Antiquity. Leiden: E. J. Brill.
  • Hollander, D., Schwartz, M. (2000) Annealing, distilling, reheating and recycling: bitumen processing in the Ancient Near East. Paléorient, 26 (2): 83-91.
  • Liberotti, G. &Daneels, A. (2012) Técnicas constructivas en tierra: reconstrucción 3D y análisis químico-físicos en los sitios de La Joya (México) y Arslantepe (Turquía). Boletín de la Sociedad Geológica Mexicana 64 (1): 79-89. (http://boletinsgm.igeolcu.unam.mx)
  • O’Connor, J. (1973) The Adobe Book. Santa Fe, NM: Ancient City Press.
  • Ohi, K. &Girón, I. (2000) Los muros de morteros y los materiales para la restauración de la arquitectura de tierra en la zona Casa Blanca.In K. Ohi (ed.) Chalchuapa, Informe de la investigación interdisciplinaria de El Salvador (1995- 2000) (pp. 262-266). Kyoto, Japan: Kyoto University of Foreign Studies.
  • Taylor, J.E. (1855) Notes on Abu Shahrein and Tel el Lahm. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, 15: 404-415.
  • Wendt, C. J. & A. Cyphers (2008) How the Olmec Used Bitumen in Ancient Mesoamerica. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 27(2):175-191.
There are 11 citations in total.

Details

Other ID JA56NN98UE
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Yuko Kita This is me

Annick Daneels This is me

Alfonso Romo De Vivar This is me

Publication Date July 23, 2016
Published in Issue Year 2013 Volume: 3 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Kita, Y., Daneels, A., & Vivar, A. R. D. (2016). Chemical analysis to identify organic compounds in pre-Columbian monumental earthen architecture. TOJSAT, 3(1), 39-45.
AMA Kita Y, Daneels A, Vivar ARD. Chemical analysis to identify organic compounds in pre-Columbian monumental earthen architecture. TOJSAT. July 2016;3(1):39-45.
Chicago Kita, Yuko, Annick Daneels, and Alfonso Romo De Vivar. “Chemical Analysis to Identify Organic Compounds in Pre-Columbian Monumental Earthen Architecture”. TOJSAT 3, no. 1 (July 2016): 39-45.
EndNote Kita Y, Daneels A, Vivar ARD (July 1, 2016) Chemical analysis to identify organic compounds in pre-Columbian monumental earthen architecture. TOJSAT 3 1 39–45.
IEEE Y. Kita, A. Daneels, and A. R. D. Vivar, “Chemical analysis to identify organic compounds in pre-Columbian monumental earthen architecture”, TOJSAT, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 39–45, 2016.
ISNAD Kita, Yuko et al. “Chemical Analysis to Identify Organic Compounds in Pre-Columbian Monumental Earthen Architecture”. TOJSAT 3/1 (July 2016), 39-45.
JAMA Kita Y, Daneels A, Vivar ARD. Chemical analysis to identify organic compounds in pre-Columbian monumental earthen architecture. TOJSAT. 2016;3:39–45.
MLA Kita, Yuko et al. “Chemical Analysis to Identify Organic Compounds in Pre-Columbian Monumental Earthen Architecture”. TOJSAT, vol. 3, no. 1, 2016, pp. 39-45.
Vancouver Kita Y, Daneels A, Vivar ARD. Chemical analysis to identify organic compounds in pre-Columbian monumental earthen architecture. TOJSAT. 2016;3(1):39-45.