Introduction – organic methods

Currently, the integration of organic analyses and interpretations with archaeology promises an exciting future. Some of the results obtained in studies undertaken in Manchester on pharmacological applications in Egyptology are discussed more fully in Chapter 13.

The objective of this review, however, is to introduce selected analytical methods to study organic matter in archaeological sites and materials. It is not a comprehensive guide to all techniques. The underlying theme is to guide the interested reader with an idea to be solved towards an appropriate analytical strategy. Following an introduction to sample preparation, the remainder of the chapter summarises general and spectroscopic methods that provide a general indication of organic composition, followed by physical techniques that ultimately yield detailed information at a molecular scale.

This review is based in part on an organic geochemical review by Simoneit and Giże (2000), in addition to those by Silverstein et al. (1974), Banwell (1983), and Peters and Moldowan (1993). Additional inorganic analytical reviews include Pollard and Heron (1996) and Gill (1997). An invaluable laboratory techniques text is Vogel's Textbook of Practical Organic Chemistry (Furniss et al. 1989). Essential data sources are The Merck Index (Budavari et al. 1989), The Chemical Rubber Company Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (Weast 1976), and Internet resources such as National Institute of Standards and Technology and Merck.