University Chemistry ›› 2023, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (2): 207-213.doi: 10.3866/PKU.DXHX202206025

• Chemistry Laboratory • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Analysis of Alcoholic Beverage Residues in Archaeological Sherd

Heng Zhang1, Jinshuai Liu1, Jiadun Wei1, Yan Gao2, Qian Wu2, Gang Liu1, Ying Ma1, Fen Wang2, Chunjiang Jia1, Shiling Yuan1,*()   

  1. 1 School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
    2 School of History and Culture, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
  • Received:2022-06-09 Accepted:2022-07-11 Published:2022-07-22
  • Contact: Shiling Yuan E-mail:shilingyuan@sdu.edu.cn

Abstract:

This experiment introduces the application of chemistry in archaeology through the detection and analysis of alcoholic beverage residues in pottery. Organic acids which are the indicators of alcoholic beverage residues are extracted through a series of experimental steps such as extraction, filtration, centrifugation and rotary evaporation, and measured by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Combined with archaeological background of pottery, the results of this experiment can be used to analyze the possible usage of the pottery. Based on emerging interdisciplinary archaeological chemistry, this experiment is offered to students majoring in chemistry and archaeology, which could provide insights into fundamental concepts, basic methods of sample isolation and HPLC analysis, as well as provide primary perception of the focused topic in archaeology.

Key words: Archaeological chemistry, Alcoholic beverage residues, Organic acid, HPLC