Dietary practices at the castle of Middelburg, Belgium: Organic residue analysis of 16th- to 17th-century ceramics

Between 2002 and 2004, excavations on the castle of Middelburg (Belgium) revealed ample pottery assemblages dating to the 16th and 17th centuries. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of preserved surface residues on these ceramics allowed the identification of biomarkers for animal and vegetal foods, and thermal processing. This paper furthermore reinforces the methodology for examining food residues by GC-MS, particularly in pottery in which highly varied meals were prepared. For example, this study forms the first instance in which dairy signals have been identified in mid-chain ketones. Moreover, insights are gained in the multiple uses of vessel types and questions arise on the dietary and medicinal practices of the inhabitants of this particular castle site.