Preliminary results on content analysis of Early Bronze Age vessels from the site of Castelluccio, Noto, Sicily

Abstract The study of vessel content can reveal important information about the dietary and culinary preferences of ancient communities. In this preliminary study, we analysed the absorbed lipid content of ten vessels from the settlement of Castelluccio in Sicily, dating to the Early Bronze Age (EBA). The vessels tested included a small selection of ceramic forms typically found in Bronze Age sites in Sicily, namely fine drinking wares and coarse ware vessels thought to have been used in food preparation and/or storage. All of the vessels tested were recovered from Hut 8. ORA results of this pilot project revealed challenging lipid preservation conditions known to occur in the Mediterranean region. Lipid analysis showed a possible animal contribution, although a plant input could not be excluded. Wine was not identified in the vessels tested.