Deciphering Ancient Adhesive Technology: Materials, Uses, and Analytical Approaches

Ancient material technology offers a compelling window into the intellectual and technological evolution of early humans. Among these innovations, adhesive production and use, dating back to approximately 200,000 years ago, reveal an advanced understanding of natural resources and chemical transformation. Despite abundant evidence of early adhesive artifacts, the variety of materials, preparation methods, and functional applications remains insufficiently explored. This knowledge gap stems largely from taphonomic deterioration, regional sampling biases, and the scarcity of well-preserved residues. Recent discoveries have begun to hint at the complexity of these substances, yet systematic characterization and experimental reconstruction are still limited in scope.Archaeological and archaeometric research has revealed that adhesives served diverse and strategic purposes in past societies, from tool hafting and architectural repair to artistic decoration and waterproofing. Materials such as birch tar, conifer resins, bitumen, gum, and animal-derived glues demonstrate a wide geographical and cultural range of applications. These findings suggest a conscious selection of resources tailored to specific functions, indicating sophisticated technical knowledge and innovation. However, despite advances in analytical chemistry and microscopy, many adhesives remain unclassified, and the technological choices underlying their composition are poorly understood. There is a pressing need for a unified approach combining experimental archaeology, advanced analytical techniques, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.This Research Topic aims to deepen understanding of ancient adhesive technologies by gathering studies that characterize adhesive materials, reconstruct historical recipes, and assess the cognitive and technological implications of their use. It seeks to address questions regarding the resources and methods employed, the degree of standardization in production, and the influence of regional and temporal variations. An additional objective is to explore the hypothesis that ancient artisans deliberately engineered composite adhesives with specific mechanical and functional properties, revealing early instances of material science in human prehistory.To gather further insights into the diversity, production, and analysis of ancient adhesives, we welcome contributions addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Raw materials, formulations, and additives in ancient adhesive production• Archaeological applications in tool-making, architecture, art, and ritual objects• Analytical and imaging techniques for identifying adhesive residues• Experimental reconstruction and performance assessment of adhesive recipes• Development of non-destructive and portable analytical tools for in situ detection• Cross-cultural comparisons of adhesive technologies and their socioeconomic implicationsThis Research Topic encourages multidisciplinary approaches spanning archaeology, chemistry, materials science, and anthropology to advance the study of ancient adhesives and their enduring contribution to technological innovation. Topic editors: Caroline Solazzo, Armelle CHARRIE-DUHAUT Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/82914/deciphering-ancient-adhesive-technology-materials-uses-and-analytical-approaches