First results of organic residue analysis on ceramic vessels (Jiyeh and ChhÎm, Lebanon) by high perfomance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

The aim of this paper is to present the first results of organic residue analysis of pottery from two Lebanese archaeological sites, Jiyeh and Chhîm. The standard approach in investigations of this type consists of mass spectrometry and gas chromatography technique, which enabled the detection of organic fractions absorbed by pores of the pottery. In the present paper, new method of liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry has been used in order to identify organic fractions. Sixteen fragments of vessels from different forms, periods and archaeological contexts have been analysed. The selected samples came from three vessel categories, kitchen vessels for cooking and store liquids, transport amphorae and storage pithoi, dated from Persian to Byzantine period. The procedure of sample extraction and HPLC-MS/MS analysis allowed to find vessels with the potential traces of the use for food product preparation and/or storage and separate it from different vessels (without traces of organic residues). Organic substances have been detected in the majority of the investigated samples.