FINGERPRINTING GLUES USING HS-SPME GC×GC–HRTOFMS: A NEW POWERFUL METHOD ALLOWS TRACKING GLUES BACK IN TIME

摘要

The use of glues for stone tool hafting is an important innovation in human evolution. Compared to other organic remains, glues are preserved more frequently, though mainly in small spots. Reliable identification requires chemical molecular characterization, which is traditionally performed by gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Current methods of extraction and derivatization prior to GC–MS are destructive and require relatively large samples, which is problematic for prehistoric glue residues. In this paper, we discuss the results of an experimental study using a new method (HS-SPME GC×GC–HRTOFMS) that proves effective for identifying small quantities of compound glues. The method is non-destructive with an improved sensitivity in comparison to traditional GC–MS, and it has a high potential for prehistoric samples.