ORGANIC RESIDUE ANALYSIS AND ARCHAEOLOGY: A CRITICAL EVALUATION OF ORA METHODS

Abstract

ABSTRACTORGANIC RESIDUE ANALYSIS AND ARCHAEOLOGY: A CRITICAL EVALUATION OF ORA METHODS by Christopher James Rowe The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 2024 Under the Supervision of Professor Bettina Arnold In recent years the field of archaeology has been increasingly interested in applying hard science techniques to different aspects of ancient life in new ways. One area of research that has been pushing the boundaries of hard science applications to understanding past societies is the archaeology of ancient alcohol. The rise of Organic Residue Analysis (ORA) has resulted in increased interdisciplinary collaborations between anthropologists, archaeologists, biochemists and other ancillary disciplines interested in revealing the mysteries of ancient alcohol. However, the application of these new technologies and methodological advances has also increased miscommunication between the chemists and biochemists, who understand the hard science, methodologies, and data presented, and the anthropologists and archaeologists, who understand the social implications and impacts of these data. Furthermore, as these new technologies continue to emerge, their interpretive limitations are still poorly understood. This thesis provides an overview and establishes protocols and guidelines for scientists in these collaborating disciplines who are navigating the appropriate use of ORA in the study of ancient alcohol.Keywords: Scientific Revolutions, Organic Residue Analysis, Archaeology of Fermentation, Ancient Alcohol