Projects in Archaeometry

Chemometrics is a useful tool in archaeometry. Applications date back to the pioneering time of multivariate data analysis in chemistry - years before the name chemometrics became popular. Two historic examples are for instance the classification of obsidian samples [1], and an investigation of material from the Colossi of Memnon, Egypt [2].

[1] Kowalski B.R., Schatzki T.F., Stross F.H.: Anal. Chem. 44, 2176 (1972). Classification of archaeological artifacts by applying pattern recognition to trace element data.

[2] Mc Gill J.R., Kowalski B.R.: Appl. Spectrosc. 31, 87 (1977). Recognizing patterns in trace elements.

Our projects are mainly connected with the Tyrolean Iceman, a ca 5200 years old - but well preserved - mummy that has been found near a glacier in the Alps. In close collaboration with other groups two subjects were investigated:

(A) Origin of pitch material that was obviously used as adhesive to fix parts of the Iceman´s weapons. It could be shown that this material was produced from birch bark.

(Together with F. Sauter et al from Institute of Organic Chemistry, Vienna University of Technology).

(B) Comparison of tissue samples from the Iceman with samples from other mummies, based on concentration profiles of fatty acids. It could be shown that this data reflect the storage conditions - but not the age - of a mummy.

(Together with R. Mader, A. Makristathis et al from University of Vienna and others).

DETAILS TO THE CONTENTS LIST IN THE FRAME

ICEMAN: Overview

>> P I T C H <<

Paper (2000): Sauter F., Jordis U., Graf A., Werther W., Varmuza K.:

ARKIVOC 1, part 5, 735 (2000).

Studies in organic archaeometry I: Identification of the prehistoric adhesive used by the "Tyrolean Iceman" to fix his weapons. (PDF, 400 kB).

Poster (2001): Varmuza K., Werther W., Sauter F.:

3rd Int. Congress on Analytical Sciences (ICAS 2001), 6 - 10 Aug. 2001, Tokyo, Japan.

Archaeometry by GC/MS-chemometrics: Origin of wood tar pitches used by the Tyrolean Iceman. (PDF, 372 kB).

Poster (1998): Werther W., Varmuza K., Hayek E., Sauter F., Jordis U., Graf A.:

2nd Int. Chemometrics Research Meeting, 24 - 28 May 1998, Veldhoven (Eindhoven), The Netherlands.

The Tyrolean Iceman. Origin of wood pitches used as adhesives on prehistoric tools and weapons. (PDF, 319 kB).

>> T I S S U E <<

Poster (1999): Varmuza K., Mader R., Werther W., Makristathis. A., Schwarzmeier J., Seidler H.:

CHEMOMETRICS V Conference, 29 August - 1 September 1999, Brno, Czech Republic

The Tyrolean Iceman and other Mummies: Comparison of Tissue Samples by Chemometric Methods. (PDF, 461 kB).