Identification of oil residues in Roman amphorae (Monte Testaccio, Rome): A comparative FTIR spectroscopic study of archeological and artificially aged samples

• A new experimental approach is proposed for the identification of oil residue in archeological amphorae.
• Integrated application of different experimental spectroscopic procedures: absorbance, diffuse reflection and reflectance.
• Suggestion of non invasive and nondestructive spectroscopic investigation.
• How analytical study get light on ancient uses and habits.

The application of Fourier Transform InfraRed (FTIR) spectroscopy to the analysis of oil residues in fragments of archeological amphorae (3rd century A.D.) from Monte Testaccio (Rome, Italy) is reported. In order to check the possibility to reveal the presence of oil residues in archeological pottery using microinvasive and\or not invasive techniques, different approaches have been followed: firstly, FTIR spectroscopy was used to study oil residues extracted from roman amphorae. Secondly, the presence of oil residues was ascertained analyzing microamounts of archeological fragments with the Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Spectroscopy (DRIFT). Finally, the external reflection analysis of the ancient shards was performed without preliminary treatments evidencing the possibility to detect oil traces through the observation of the most intense features of its spectrum. Incidentally, the existence of carboxylate salts of fatty acids was also observed in DRIFT and Reflectance spectra of archeological samples supporting the roman habit of spreading lime over the spoil heaps. The data collected in all steps were always compared with results obtained on purposely made replicas.