Abstract
Aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, and fatty acids were detected from a stone excavated from an archaeological pit in Inadaira site, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) of pyrolytic origin were not detected in carbonized material adhered on the surface of the stone sample and in soil (soil sample) which covered the stone. Shorter carbon-chain (<C22) n-alkanes found on the stone sample were probably associated with allochthonous living organisms. Likewise, the tetradecanoic, hexadecanoic and cis-9 hexadecenoic acids were relatively abundant in the sample, indicating that the allochthonous materials were supplied and well preserved on the surface. In the soil sample, the molecular distribution patterns of n-alkanes and fatty acids were nearly similar to those reported for the typical forest soil and therefore, they were mainly derived from the terrestrial higher plants. These results indicate that the stone has not experienced high temperature heating and do not support the archaeologists' speculation that the pit was used as a kiln. It is presumed that the pit was possibly used as a non-heating place for storage of foods etc.
