Abstract
Organic residue analysis was conducted on various vessels from burials at Tel Yehud, Israel. The analyses led to new reliable evidence for the presence of opioid alkaloids and their decomposition products. This research revitalizes a decades-old discussion on the presence and function of the opium trade across a cultural region of utmost significance in the Ancient Near East and the use and role of Base-Ring juglets during the Late Bronze Age IIA (14th century bce). Furthermore, it was found that opium storage was not limited to Base-Ring juglets. Opium was possibly diluted into storage jars and juglets, signifying the importance of opium utilization at a larger scale during this period.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Archaeometry |
DOIs | |
State | Accepted/In press - 2022 |
Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2022 The Authors. Archaeometry published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of University of Oxford.
Keywords
- Base-Ring juglets
- Cypriot ware
- gas chromatography–mass spectrometry
- Israel
- Late Bronze Age IIA
- opioid alkaloids
- opium
- organic residue analysis
- Tel Yehud