Abstract
- Two extracts of archaeological residue from AR2, a Bronze Age ‘bathtub’ from the Ashdod Railroad, were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). One of the extracts utilized petroleum ether, the other used ethyl acetate to extract the residues. These residues were compared with a lanolin standard. Neither residue extract appeared similar to lanolin; the petroleum ether extraction appeared to be more useful, and could be interpreted as primarily plant in origin. The ethyl acetate extraction contained more waxes, and was difficult to interpret. Interpretation of both extractions was problematic due to contamination issues. Future recommendations focus on stronger controls against contamination, particularly of solvents used in the extraction, saponification of an aliquot of the total lipid extract to increase sensitivity, and a change of the solvents used during the extraction process.