Organic residue analysis and the role of Lapita pottery

Abstract

The social practices related to food preparation and consumption are known to reveal important aspects of any culture, as resources are usually consumed not only for their taste and nutritional value but also for the significance they hold in specific contexts (Twiss 2012). Organic residue analysis represents a useful way to identify specific foods and relate them directly to artefacts. In contexts where containers are thought to bear a special value, directly identifying the content of pottery through organic residue analysis has the potential to highlight the status of different food resources within the community.