No / In contrast with artefactual studies of long-distance trade and exchange in South Asia during
the Prehistoric and Early Historic periods (Ardika
et al
. 1993; Gogte 1997; Krishnan and
Coningham 1997; Tomber 2000; Gupta
et al
. 2001; Ford
et al
. 2005), few scientifically
orientated analyses have focused on artefacts from the region¿s Historic period. During
excavations at the ancient city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, a number of buff ware ceramics
with a putative organic coating on the interior were recovered (Coningham 2006). Dated
stylistically to between the third and ninth centuries
AD
, analysis of the coatings using gas
chromatography¿mass spectrometry (GC¿MS) and stable isotope analysis (carbon and
deuterium) confirmed that the coatings are bitumen¿an organic product associated with
petroleum deposits. There are no known bitumen sources in Sri Lanka, and biomarker
distributions and isotopic signatures suggest that the majority of the samples appear to have
come from a single bitumen source near Susa in Iran. The relationship between the bitumen
coatings and the vessels is discussed, and it is suggested that the coatings were used to seal
permeable ceramic containers to allow them to transport liquid commodities. This study
enhances our knowledge of networks of trade and exchange between Sri Lanka and western
Asia during Historic times.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BRADFORD/oai:bradscholars.brad.ac.uk:10454/4784 |
| Date | January 2008 |
| Creators | Stern, Ben, Connan, J., Blakelock, Eleanor S., Jackman, R., Coningham, Robin A.E., Heron, Carl P. |
| Source Sets | Bradford Scholars |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Article, No full-text in the repository |
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