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The Nature of Charcoal Excavated at Archaeological Sites

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

S. F. Cook
S. F. Cook*
Affiliation:
University of California, Berkeley, California
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Abstract

Samples of charcoal recovered from excavated sites were treated with strong acid, followed by strong base. This process removes most of the inorganic carbonates and organic compounds, leaving highly condensed or elementary carbon. The fixed carbon content of the specimens from four sites varied widely and indicated different sources of organic matter. Each charcoal, therefore, has a characteristic chemical composition.

Type
Facts and Comments
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 29 , Issue 4 , April 1964 , pp. 514 - 517
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 1964

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