Archaeometry of Birch Bark Pitch

Abstract

Birch bark pitch (BBP) is a dark organic matter which is found on various types of prehistoric objects, most frequently on pottery. The present paper informs what sort of substance it is, how it can be prepared, what it was used for in prehistoric times, in which regions it is found, to which prehistoric periods such finds can be assigned, which analytical methods can be used to identify an excavated sample as BBP, which ones were used by our own team, and which one of these is – according to our assessment – particularly advantageous regarding the generally low quantity of sample material.