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Science 17 October 1997:
Vol. 278. no. 5337, pp. 432 - 433
DOI: 10.1126/science.278.5337.432
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Reports

Volatile Compounds in Archaeological Plant Remains and the Maillard Reaction During Decay of Organic Matter

Richard P. Evershed, * Helen A. Bland, Pim F. van Bergen, James F. Carter, Mark C. Horton, Peter A. Rowley-Conwy

Archaeological plant remains from excavations at Qasr Ibrîm, Egypt, preserve volatile decay products trapped within internal networks of structural and storage macromolecules. These volatile components can be linked to specific degradative reactions occurring during the long-term burial of organic matter. Abundant alkyl pyrazines are characteristic by-products of the Maillard (or browning) reaction of proteins and carbohydrates and provide evidence for the reaction occurring in buried organic matter.

R. P. Evershed, H. A. Bland, P. F. van Bergen, J. F. Carter, Organic Geochemistry Unit, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK.
M. C. Horton, Department of Archaeology, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1TB, UK.
P. A. Rowley-Conwy, Department of Archaeology, University of Durham, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK.
*   To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: r.p.evershed{at}bristol.ac.uk

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