Lipid preservation in ceramics and bones from the Iranian Plateau: Implications for dietary and chronological reconstructions

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This paper presents the first investigations of lipid preserved in bones and ceramics, from sites of various ages and depositional environments in Iran with the aim of using them in palaeodietary and chronological reconstructions. We also characterized modern dairy products from the region using stable carbon isotope values to provide a local reference range for dairy lipid identification in archaeological ceramics. The dataset recorded on pottery suggests lipids are recovered in appreciable concentrations regardless of the environment or the age of settlements, but rather the vessel function may play an important role. The results showed exploitation of ruminant adipose and dairy products in pottery vessels from the Late Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods. Our dataset suggests lipids in pottery are viable materials for palaeodietary and chronological reconstructions for the Iranian region. Lipid preservation in bones, similar to collagen, is more variable. Lipid and collagen preservation in bones are not directly related and one of the bones studied showed diagnostic lipids in a context of low collagen preservation. This suggests lipids have limited potential to be used for chronological reconstructions as an alternative to collagen when the latter does not survive.