Review of The Article on Residue Analysis of Smoking Pipe Fragments from The Feltus Archaeological Site

The article I chose to write about is Residue analysis of smoking pipe fragments from the Feltus archaeological site. In this article, archaeologist conducted research and testing on the residue of six smoking pipes found at the Feltus site located in the Lower Mississippi River Valley.

The method they used to identify different compounds in the residue is called Gas Chromatography/ Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). They used this method to determine if the Paleoindians were using tobacco at the time by looking for traces of nicotine. This testing method can be used to identify various compounds found at archaeological sites that contain more than one element like, residue from smoking pipes. This method of testing is also applied to several other fields such as drug detection in airports, environmental analysis, and fire investigations.

Gas Chromatography/ Mass Spectrometry is a highly advanced machine that can analyze trace amounts of chemical substances in order to identify what elements make up that compound. GC/MS can be applied to a wide variety of situations, for example, in this article it was used to identify the compounds that make up the residue in the smoking pipes. This method combines two different components, the gas chromatograph and the mass spectrometer. The gas chromatographer comprises of a capillary column that can be different sizes and widths and contain different types of phase properties. The gas chromatographer stimulates separation of molecules as it travels through the column, after this the molecules are released from the column to the mass spectrometer, which then further breaks it down into ionized particles that can then be identified using their mass to charge ratios. Using these two methods together allows for a better degree of identification then if used separately.

This method has provided great contributions to archaeology as well as other fields of study. GC/MS has even been referred to as the “Gold Standard” of forensic testing. This method is the best method available today as far as testing substances are concerned. One of the reasons this method is so revered is because it can test trace amounts with a one hundred percent ability to identify certain substances. This method is important to archaeology because it can be used to identify mixtures of things like, clay pots, smoking residue from pipes, and food residue from cooking artifacts.

Although GC/MS does not require perfect weather conditions or a big sample, it does require a machine and a laboratory. The cost of this machine can run into the thousands of dollars to own, but to have a sample tested the cost is about $150 on eBay through a company called Millis Scientific (eBay). So, depending on the number of samples and the information it would provide, the cost seems reasonable for today’s standards, taking into consideration that a DNA test cost about the same.

Even though GC/MS is considered the “Gold Standard” it still has its limitations. For Example, it can only identify certain substances, it cannot date them or explain how they got there. That is when archaeologist take the information, apply it to the sites and put it in context. Like the residue from the smoking pipe testing positive for nicotine at the Feltus site. This would imply that the Indians were probably smoking tobacco. I am very supportive of this method and I believe it is well worth the cost. I support this method when it comes to identifying different substances because it’s extremely accurate and it can be applied to many fields including but not limited to archaeology.