Thesis (Ph. D.)--Columbia University, 1927. / Vita. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (p. 24).

Resin found within Canaanite amphorae from the Late Bronze Age shipwreck discovered off the coast of southwest Turkey at Uluburun has previously been identified as Pistacia sp. Although evidence from Egypt suggests that this resin was in high demand and typically transported in such amphorae, it has also been proposed that the amphorae contained wine, with the resin used to seal the interior surfaces and to flavour and/or preserve the wine. To attempt to resolve this question, we have analysed five samples of pistacia resin found in amphorae from the shipwreck using a range of analytical techniques which have used in the past for the analysis of wine residues: spot tests, FT-IR, and HPLC-MS-MS. As well as the archaeological samples, we have analysed modern samples of pistacia resin, leaves and fruit to determine the effectiveness of each technique and to exclude the possibility of false positive results. In addition to the analyses for wine we also detail analysis (GC-MS) of the terpenoids for the purpose of further molecular characterisation of the resin. Bulk stable isotope analysis was used in comparison with similar resins to attempt to identify the geographical origin of the resin.

The aqueous photochemistry of 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzoic acid (syringic acid) has been studied as a model humic substance in order to better understand the reactions that compounds of this type undergo in the natural environment. Syringic acid was chosen since it has been identified as a component of humic substances in the environment and bears many of chemical moieties found in structures of this type. In addition, there has been speculation that humic substances are responsible for some of the production of halomethanes that are released into the environment. Photolysis of these compounds in marine and estuarine waters may be responsible for the release of halomethanes which are known stratospheric ozone depleters. Photochemical product studies of syringic acid and related compounds along with UV-Vis spectrometry, laser flash photolysis and membrane introduction mass spectrometry were carried out in aqueous solutions to study its photochemical transformations. Syringic acid was found to form methanol at a 0.01 quantum yield upon its photolysis in basic solution. Other major photoproducts included 3-methoxygallic acid and 3,5-dimethoxybenzoic acid. Chloromethane was identified as a minor photoproduct in chloride enriched solution by following its production via membrane introduction mass spectrometry. The proposed mechanism for the formation of these photoproducts involves an initial photoprotonation of the benzene ring, resulting in a carbocation that can facilitate the nucleophilic attack by water or chloride, to produce methanol or chloromethane, respectively. The formation of 3,5-dimethoxybenzoic acid is via a novel pathway that involves the loss of the hydroxy group from the aromatic ring after the photoprotonation.

The aqueous photochemistry of 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzoic acid (syringic acid) has been studied as a model humic substance in order to better understand the reactions that compounds of this type undergo in the natural environment. Syringic acid was chosen since it has been identified as a component of humic substances in the environment and bears many of chemical moieties found in structures of this type. In addition, there has been speculation that humic substances are responsible for some of the production of halomethanes that are released into the environment. Photolysis of these compounds in marine and estuarine waters may be responsible for the release of halomethanes which are known stratospheric ozone depleters. Photochemical product studies of syringic acid and related compounds along with UV-Vis spectrometry, laser flash photolysis and membrane introduction mass spectrometry were carried out in aqueous solutions to study its photochemical transformations. Syringic acid was found to form methanol at a 0.01 quantum yield upon its photolysis in basic solution. Other major photoproducts included 3-methoxygallic acid and 3,5-dimethoxybenzoic acid. Chloromethane was identified as a minor photoproduct in chloride enriched solution by following its production via membrane introduction mass spectrometry. The proposed mechanism for the formation of these photoproducts involves an initial photoprotonation of the benzene ring, resulting in a carbocation that can facilitate the nucleophilic attack by water or chloride, to produce methanol or chloromethane, respectively. The formation of 3,5-dimethoxybenzoic acid is via a novel pathway that involves the loss of the hydroxy group from the aromatic ring after the photoprotonation.

Resin found within Canaanite amphorae from the Late Bronze Age shipwreck discovered off the coast of southwest Turkey at Uluburun has previously been identified as Pistacia sp. Although evidence from Egypt suggests that this resin was in high demand and typically transported in such amphorae, it has also been proposed that the amphorae contained wine, with the resin used to seal the interior surfaces and to flavour and/or preserve the wine. To attempt to resolve this question, we have analysed five samples of pistacia resin found in amphorae from the shipwreck using a range of analytical techniques which have used in the past for the analysis of wine residues: spot tests, FT-IR, and HPLC-MS-MS. As well as the archaeological samples, we have analysed modern samples of pistacia resin, leaves and fruit to determine the effectiveness of each technique and to exclude the possibility of false positive results. In addition to the analyses for wine we also detail analysis (GC-MS) of the terpenoids for the purpose of further molecular characterisation of the resin. Bulk stable isotope analysis was used in comparison with similar resins to attempt to identify the geographical origin of the resin.

Ce travail porte sur la caractérisation des matériaux présents à l’intérieur d’amphores romaines. Il avait pour but de déterminer à la fois la nature de la matière étanchéisante des parois internes, mais aussi d’identifier leur contenu.Pour mener à bien cette étude, divers outils analytiques ont été employés tel l’infrarouge à Transformée de Fourier(IR-TF) ou bien encore la chromatographie gazeuse couplée à un spectromètre de masse (CPG-SM). Divers protocoles d’extraction ont été testés et optimisés en fonction des différentes classes chimiques de composés recherchés, comme par exemple pour la caractérisation de la présence de vin (ex : les acides tartrique et syringique)ou bien d’huile d’olive (acides oléique, palmitique, stéarique, …). Ce travail préliminaire a été réalisé sur un ensemble d’amphores romaines dites de référence, c’est-à-dire dont le contenu était avéré.Dans un second temps, les résultats obtenus ont été appliqués à des cas d’étude d’amphores du type Dressel 1 datant de la fin du IIème siècle ou du début du Ier siècle av. J.-C, estampillées du timbre Sestius. Elles provenaient de Cosa en Étrurie, l'actuelle Toscane.Les premiers échantillons étudiés correspondent à des amphores Dressel 1A de l’épave du Grand Congloué 2. L’étude en IR-TF a indiqué différentes bandes de matière organique, comme la liaison chimique de O-H à partir de l'acide carboxylique, C-H du groupe méthylène et C-O de l'ester méthylique. L'étude réalisée par CPG-SM a révélé des diterpènes, tels que l'acide déhydroabiétique et le rétène qui sont des marqueurs diterpéniques de la famille des Pinacées. Des dérivés esters méthyliques ont été également caractérisés. Cela indique une poix obtenue par pyrogénation de bois résineux (Pinus sp.). L’extraction du contenu a été optimisée et la technique par CPG-SM a été appliquée avec succès. On a observé la présence d’acide tartrique et d’acide syringique (principaux marqueurs du vin) dans la poix située en surface intérieure, mais aussi dans la matière des tessons. D’autres échantillons proviennent d’amphores Dressel 1C, retrouvées dans le complexe archéologique des fossés du« Verbe-Incarné » de Lyon. Pour vérifier leur contenu en vin, la technique de CPG-SM a été utilisée. Les résultats obtenus semblent confirmer la présence de vin. Enfin le dernier lot concerne des tessons amphores provenant de l’Oppidum de Châteaumeillant. Parmi les échantillons étudiés, l’un d’entre eux a particulièrement attiré notre attention de par la présence de vin et de résine sandaraque (Tetraclinis articulata). / This work relates the characterization of materials inside Roman amphorae. It aimed to determine at once thewaterproofing material on the internal walls, but also to identify their content.In this way, different analytical tools were used as infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and gas chromatography (GC/MS).Several types of extraction were tested to optimize the results concerning for example the presence of wine (tartric andsyringic acids) or olive oil (oleic, palmitic, stearic acids,…).This preliminary work has been developed with reference Roman amphorae, i.e. whose content was known.In a second time, the obtained results were applied to case studies: amphorae « Dressel 1 type » dating from the endof the IInd century or the beginning of Ist century BC, with the stamp « Sestius ». They come from Cosa in Étrurie, thecurrent Tuscany.The first studied samples correspond to amphorae Dressel 1A of the wreck of Grand Congloué 2. The study with FT-IRindicated different bands concerning organic matter, as the chemical link O-H from carboxylic acid, C-H of themethylene group and C-O of the methyl ester. The study carried out by GC-MS showed diterpenoids, such asdehydroabietic acid and reten, which are diterpenic markers of Pinaceae family. Methyl ester by products were alsocharacterized. It reveals a pitch pyrogenically prepared from resinous wood (Pinus sp.). The extraction of the contentswas optimized and GS-MS technique was successfully applied. We observed the presence of tartric and syringic acids(main markers of wine) in the pitched internal walls surface, but also in the potsherd matter.Other samples come from amphorae Dressel 1C found in the archaeological site of the gaps of the « Verbe Incarné »in Lyon. To verify their contents with wine, the GS-MS technique was used. The obtained results seem to confirm thepresence of wine. Finally the last group concerns amphora shards coming from the Oppidum of Châteaumeillant.Among the studied samples, one of them was particularly interesting, revealing the presence of wine and sandaracresin (Tetraclinis articulata).