Chemical Insights into the Function of Four Sphero-Conical Vessels from Medieval Dvin, Armenia

Sphero-conical vessels are commonly found in small quantities at medieval sites throughout the Near East. These relatively small vessels have a distinctive torpedo shape, sturdy walls, and a narrow, nipple-shaped opening. Several functions have been proposed for them, including incendiary devices, p...

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Bibliographische Detailangaben
VerfasserInnen: Barnard, Hans (Verfasst von) ; Shah, Sneha (Verfasst von, BeteiligteR) ; Areshian, Gregory E. (Verfasst von)
Beteiligte: Faull, Kym F.
Medienart: Elektronisch Aufsatz
Sprache:Englisch
Verfügbarkeit prüfen: HBZ Gateway
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Veröffentlicht: 2016
In: Muqarnas
Jahr: 2016, Band: 33, Heft: 1, Seiten: 409-419
weitere Schlagwörter:B Armenia
 gas chromatography
 mass spectrometry
 perfume
 residue analysis
 scented oil
 sphero-conical vessels

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Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:Sphero-conical vessels are commonly found in small quantities at medieval sites throughout the Near East. These relatively small vessels have a distinctive torpedo shape, sturdy walls, and a narrow, nipple-shaped opening. Several functions have been proposed for them, including incendiary devices, plumb bobs, aeolipiles in pottery kilns, the main part of a water pipe, and containers for precious liquids such as mercury, scented oils, ink, wine, or beer. We analyzed the organic residues preserved in the walls of four sphero-conical vessels excavated in twelfth–thirteenth century layers at Dvin, Armenia, using gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). These vessels all contained trace levels of fat and oils, findings that we interpret as the remains of scented oils. This interpretation adds support to the proposed primary function of these vessels as containers for perfumes but does not exclude the possibility that different vessels may have been used or reused for one or more of the other suggested purposes.

Physische Details:Online-Ressource
ISSN:2211-8993
Enthält:In: Muqarnas
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1163/22118993_03301P012