All data is related to the analyses of Bronze-Age period bitumen samples excavated at Tell Abraq (United Arab Emirates) by Bryn Mawr University.
All material was made available by dr. Peter Magee and the Bryn Mawr University project at Tell Abraq

This material was published in the "Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies"
Full reference:
Van de Velde T., Magee P. & Lynen F. 2017. The bitumen imports at Tell Abraq - tracing the second millennium BC bitumen industry in south-east Arabia. Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies 47: 227-238

FOLDER ORGANISATION:
'Images related to the samples'
This folder contains all possible relevant information. For example, some bitumen held traces of barnacles, or were attached to a pottery sherd. This is recorded in registred in this folder

'Raw Data GCMS'
This folder holds all raw data, straight out of the GC-MS and organised per sample

file: 'Tell Abraq measured data'
.csv and .xlsx version, both contain the same information
All measured data and relevant biomarker ratios.

Targeted biomarkers:
Several compounds were specifically targeted:
Ts:  18a(H)-22,29,30-Trisnorneohopane
Tm:  17a(H)-22,29,30-Trisnorhopane
C29: 17a(H), 21b(H)-30-norhopane
C30  17a(H), 21b(H)-hopane
31S: 17a(H), 21b(H)-22S-Homohopane
31R: 17a(H), 21b(H)-22R-Homohopane
GCRN: Gammacerane
18a(H)-oleanane => targeted, but not identified in the samples.
Peak areas were used to quantify individual compounds and determine molecular ratios.


SAMPLE PREPARATION

All samples were treated with DCM/MeOH to extract the organic contents.
Hexane precipitaten was used to seperate the asphaltenes from the other compounds.
Aromatics, Resins and Saturated Hydrocarbons were separated using open column chromotagraphy using hexane to elute the Saturad hydrocarbons
GC-MS analysis was conducted on the latter fraction.

Stable Carbon Isotope Analysis was used on the asphaltenes fraction

All GC-MS analys were run an HP 6890-5973 GC-MS on an HP-5MS column (30m x 0.25mm x 0.25um)
Oven temperature increased from 40°C to 250°C at 6°C per minute, and from 250 to 300° at 2°C per minute.

Carbon isotope composition of the asphaltene fraction was determined using an elemental analyser (ANCA-SL, PDZ Europe, UK) coupled to an isotope ratio mass spectroscope (IRMS Sercon 20-22)
Isotopic coposition reported relative to the Vienna Pee Dee Beleminte (VPDB)

A detailed description on sample pre-treatmen is reported in the article.

Not all samples produced chromotograms with reliable information. These were left out of this dataset.

