Reading the Residues in Archaeological Hearth Deposits
Résumé
Remnant lipids from the combustion and heat-related processing of animal products preserve exceptionally well in many Arctic sites. Various terrestrial and aquatic lipid sources can be identified through combined molecular and isotopic analyses, but studies are still in an early phase. Here, we present results from recent field and laboratory experiments that provide clarification on pyrogenic biomarker formation in combustion related sediments. Our analyses of sedimentary layers from experimental fires, laboratory heating experiments, and archaeological hearths have identified a range of biomarkers formed through pyrolysis of animal fats, which are otherwise rare in the environment.