Innovation through recycling in Iron Age plaster technology at Tell el-Burak, Lebanon
Abstract Recent excavations at the Phoenician coastal site of Tell el-Burak, a large-scale agricultural production centre in use during 725–350 BCE, have uncovered the first Iron Age wine press in Lebanon. This discovery enabled a systematic, interdisciplinary study of its plaster, offering insights...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05844-x |
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| author | Silvia Amicone Adriano Orsingher Emma Cantisani Sara Calandra Kamal Badreshany Cynthianne Spiteri Christoph Berthold Hélène Sader Aaron Schmitt Jens Kamlah |
| author_facet | Silvia Amicone Adriano Orsingher Emma Cantisani Sara Calandra Kamal Badreshany Cynthianne Spiteri Christoph Berthold Hélène Sader Aaron Schmitt Jens Kamlah |
| author_sort | Silvia Amicone |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Recent excavations at the Phoenician coastal site of Tell el-Burak, a large-scale agricultural production centre in use during 725–350 BCE, have uncovered the first Iron Age wine press in Lebanon. This discovery enabled a systematic, interdisciplinary study of its plaster, offering insights into ancient construction technologies. The analysis extended to two other plastered installations found in separate rooms within the complex, allowing for a comprehensive comparison. An integrated program of archaeometric analysis, including optical microscopy in polarising light, X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetry, and organic residue analysis, was applied to samples from these three structures to investigate plaster composition and technological variability. Previous studies identified the use of crushed ceramic fragments in a lime-based plaster. Now, new analyses provide deeper insights into the nature of the binder, revealing how the addition of ceramic sherds may have enhanced the plaster’s mechanical properties and hydraulicity, making it a significant early example of hydraulic mortar. These findings confirm the existence of a local, innovative tradition of lime-plaster manufacture in southern Phoenicia. This investigation not only sheds light on the specific technological practices of Tell el-Burak, but also contributes to the broader understanding of Phoenician and Punic technological advancements in the Iron Age Mediterranean. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-19b8a1cf83b4435dbdbe0d20e71c1f30 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| spelling | doaj-art-19b8a1cf83b4435dbdbe0d20e71c1f302025-08-20T03:05:21ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111510.1038/s41598-025-05844-xInnovation through recycling in Iron Age plaster technology at Tell el-Burak, LebanonSilvia Amicone0Adriano Orsingher1Emma Cantisani2Sara Calandra3Kamal Badreshany4Cynthianne Spiteri5Christoph Berthold6Hélène Sader7Aaron Schmitt8Jens Kamlah9Archaeometry Research Group (CCA-BW), Eberhard Karls University TübingenInstitute of Biblical Archaeology, Eberhard Karls University TübingenInstitute of Heritage Science, CNRDepartment of Earth Sciences, University of FlorenceDepartment of Archaeology, Durham UniversityArchaeometry Research Group (CCA-BW), Eberhard Karls University TübingenArchaeometry Research Group (CCA-BW), Eberhard Karls University TübingenDepartment of History and Archaeology, American University of BeirutInstitut für Ur- und Frühgeschichte und Vorderasiatische Archäologie, Heidelberg UniversityInstitute of Biblical Archaeology, Eberhard Karls University TübingenAbstract Recent excavations at the Phoenician coastal site of Tell el-Burak, a large-scale agricultural production centre in use during 725–350 BCE, have uncovered the first Iron Age wine press in Lebanon. This discovery enabled a systematic, interdisciplinary study of its plaster, offering insights into ancient construction technologies. The analysis extended to two other plastered installations found in separate rooms within the complex, allowing for a comprehensive comparison. An integrated program of archaeometric analysis, including optical microscopy in polarising light, X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetry, and organic residue analysis, was applied to samples from these three structures to investigate plaster composition and technological variability. Previous studies identified the use of crushed ceramic fragments in a lime-based plaster. Now, new analyses provide deeper insights into the nature of the binder, revealing how the addition of ceramic sherds may have enhanced the plaster’s mechanical properties and hydraulicity, making it a significant early example of hydraulic mortar. These findings confirm the existence of a local, innovative tradition of lime-plaster manufacture in southern Phoenicia. This investigation not only sheds light on the specific technological practices of Tell el-Burak, but also contributes to the broader understanding of Phoenician and Punic technological advancements in the Iron Age Mediterranean.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05844-xPlasterIron Age technologyCeramicsRecyclingLebanonPhoenician |
| spellingShingle | Silvia Amicone Adriano Orsingher Emma Cantisani Sara Calandra Kamal Badreshany Cynthianne Spiteri Christoph Berthold Hélène Sader Aaron Schmitt Jens Kamlah Innovation through recycling in Iron Age plaster technology at Tell el-Burak, Lebanon Scientific Reports Plaster Iron Age technology Ceramics Recycling Lebanon Phoenician |
| title | Innovation through recycling in Iron Age plaster technology at Tell el-Burak, Lebanon |
| title_full | Innovation through recycling in Iron Age plaster technology at Tell el-Burak, Lebanon |
| title_fullStr | Innovation through recycling in Iron Age plaster technology at Tell el-Burak, Lebanon |
| title_full_unstemmed | Innovation through recycling in Iron Age plaster technology at Tell el-Burak, Lebanon |
| title_short | Innovation through recycling in Iron Age plaster technology at Tell el-Burak, Lebanon |
| title_sort | innovation through recycling in iron age plaster technology at tell el burak lebanon |
| topic | Plaster Iron Age technology Ceramics Recycling Lebanon Phoenician |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05844-x |
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