Hello, I have seen that glassy look in charcoal from the "destruction level" at Gordion...the wood is pine, from beams burned in a very hot fire (i.e., hot enough to deform the pottery, too, and some of the wheat and lentils also have a gray look). I wonder ... are there phytoliths in wood (i.e., silica) that might vitrify at high temperature?

Naomi.

On Thursday, August 26, 2004, at 09:54 AM, Owen Davis wrote:

I find these in westernUSAarcheological samples, too. Here, charcoal for specialists probably isn't the answer. But, perhaps they might indicate burning of charcoal from an earlier fire - repeated use of a hearth. I have also thought the glassy appearance might result from high-temperature combustion.

 

Yes, experimentation is the best idea.

 

Owen.

 

-----Original Message-----

From: The archaeobotany mailing list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf OfVan Der Veen, Dr M.

Sent: Thursday, August 26, 2004 4:42 AM

To: [log in to unmask]

Subject: Re: deformed charcoal

 

I have found this in my Egyptian material (Mons Porphyrites and Mons Claudianus), in press.

This is likely to happen when charcoal, rather than wood is used for fuel, ie material is fired twice (usually specialist use of fuel, in my case in smithies associated with stone quarries)  Though experimentation would be good idea to test this idea.

 

Marijke van der Veen

-----Original Message-----

From: The archaeobotany mailing list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf OfBIAX Consult

Sent: 26 August 2004 10:48

To: [log in to unmask]

Subject: deformed charcoal

Dear botanists,

 

I am an archaeologist and am involved in wood and charcoal research in the Netherlands. Regularly I come upon the phenomenon in charcoal, that the cell walls of the wood seem to have melted and the cell structure has disappeared . These charcoal fragments have a metallic shine, are very hard and difficult to break. It often seems to occur in bark fragments first. Does any of you recognize this and does anyone have an idea what causes this or where I can find references to this phenomenon.

 

Thanks a lot and greetings from Pauline van Rijn

 

BIAX Consult

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Naomi F. Miller

University of Pennsylvania Museum

MASCA-Museum Applied Science Center for Archaeology

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Philadelphia, PA 19104

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