Material and Sensory Experiences of Mesolithic Resinous Substances
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 6043791 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Aimée Little (0000-0003-4713-4260, Global Energy Interconnection Research Institute North America, corresponding author), Andy Needham (0000-0003-4302-1568, Global Energy Interconnection Research Institute North America), Andrew Langley (0000-0002-3735-0296), A J Langley (Global Energy Interconnection Research Institute North America), Brian Elliott (0000-0002-2456-1983, Global Energy Interconnection Research Institute North America), Benjamin Elliott |
| Year | 2023 |
| Volume | 33 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 217-246 |
| Publication date | 2023-05-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Cambridge Archaeological Journal (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0959-7743 • E-ISSN: 1474-0540 |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1017/s0959774322000300 |
| OpenAlex | W4307723339 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 9 |
| References cited | 115 |
Mesolithic resinous adhesives are well known for their role as hafting mastic within composite technologies, yet it is increasingly clear that their usage was more diverse than this. Birch-bark tar has been recovered from Mesolithic contexts as chewed lumps linked to medicinal treatment of toothache and oral diseases, and as a decorative element on ornaments and art objects; and an amorphous resinous substance possibly derived from pine or spruce resin has been found within a burial context. This diversity of applications suggests that resins and tars may have been understood in different ways which did not always privilege their mechanical functionality. To underscore the limited archaeological perspective of conifer resins and tars as hafting agents, we draw on data sourced from a wide range of ethnographically documented societies, demonstrating the array of economic and social functions these materials have for contemporary hunter-gatherer groups. Using archaeological case studies, we illustrate how a deeper understanding of the material and sensory properties of resins and tars, and the trees from which they are derived, opens new insights into the diverse roles resinous materials performed within Mesolithic worldviews
Archaeology · Art · Geography · Mesolithic · Ornaments · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Archaeology and Rock Art Studies · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
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| Unique citing works | 9 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 3 |
| Citation span | 2023 - 2026 (4) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 8 |