Ref ID:	32436
Ref Type:	Journal Article
Authors:	Beck, Curt W. Stout, Edith C. Bingham, Jonathan Lucas, Jonathan Purohit, Vandana
Title:	Central European pine tar technologies
Date:	1999
Source:	Ancient Biomolecules
Abstract:	The techniques of ancient tar manufacture are known only from literary sources and from scant archaeological remains. This report continues the study of tar pyrotechnology by the chemical analysis of ancient pine tars. Three samples from German sites have been analyzed. Two come from pitch ovens and one from pottery sherds associated with the doublepot method. The composition of the tars has been established by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. All three tars were made from resinous wood rather than from bled resin. Using correlations established in earlier work, maximum manufacturing temperatures have been determined from the degree of decarboxylation and from the concentrations of individual degradation products. The presence of mono- and sesquiterpenoids in tar-soaked sand near one pitch oven does not indicate a low-operating temperature and it may be the discarded first fraction of pyrolysis.
Date Created:	7/21/2003
Volume:	2
Number:	4
Page Start:	281
Page End:	293