wood ash and charcoal

Ingredients

wood ash, charcoal

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

The material was identified in a fire installation level within a midden in drainage channel area DR-2 (p. 225, 227). The fire installation is lined by a thin silty ridge (Loc. DR2-136 and -138) showing traces of burning (p. 227). The ashy layers are over 50 cm thick and contain frequent pieces of charcoal (p. 227). Geochemically, this layer is characterized by available phosphate levels rising from 36.4% to 63.8% and elevated concentrations of Magnesium (Mg) and Potassium (K) (p. 230).

Evidence

"The higher amounts of both Mg and K may indicate wood ash (Figure 11)."

Remarks

The sample originates from a Neolithic context (late 9th millennium BCE) at Göbekli Tepe rather than the Islamic period, but it provides rigorous archaeometric data on the chemical signatures of wood ash used as a colorant/residue (p. 214, 217). The high available phosphate ratios (PO4 av. vs PO4 tot.) confirm anthropogenic deposition of organic waste and bone material in conjunction with the ash (p. 227).