# Various Analytical Techniques Reveal the Presence of Damaged Organic Remains in a Neolithic Adhesive Collected During Archeological Excavations in Cantagrilli (Florence Area, Italy)

## TL;DR

This study used multiple analytical techniques to examine a Neolithic adhesive from Italy, revealing its chemical composition and decomposition state.

## Contribution

The paper presents a multi-analytical approach combining chemical and archeobotanical methods to study ancient adhesives.

## Key findings

- The adhesive contains triterpenes, aged anhydride, benzoyl resin, and gelatinized starch.
- Mass spectrometry revealed the chemical decomposition state of the compounds.
- Archeobotanical data suggest possible plant origins for some components, though not conclusively.

## Abstract

In this work, an archeological adhesive collected at Cantagrilli (near Florence) was chemically analyzed by applying gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, infrared spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry combined with the archeobotanical investigations. Data identify triterpenes, aged anhydride, benzoyl resin, and gelatinized starch in the sample. The multi-analytical approach allowed us to identify some molecular compounds, as well as their state of chemical decomposition (especially by applying the mass spectrometry techniques). On the other hand, archeobotanical measurements have provided useful but not unequivocal information regarding the possible origin of triterpenes from some terrestrial plants, combined with the presence of microorganisms and transformed chemicals (such as starch modified into gelatin). All this information is very useful to Prehistoric Archeologists for understanding the cultural processes and technologies used by ancient populations.