Hi Jason,

Chris Espenshade has had success with chemical analyses of medicine  
bottle residues. If you'd. Like to be in touch with him, let me know  
and I'll pass you his email. Chris has a chapter in my forthcoming  
book on science in historical archaeology.
Cheers,
Tim


Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 7, 2008, at 3:49 PM, Jason Ramsey <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> I am a lab supervisor working with Shannon Dawdy on material
> from the New Orleans French Quarter.  I was wondering if
> anyone had suggestions on how best to approach possible
> chemical residue analysis.
>
> We have a great deal of ceramic and bottle glass.
> What techniques are most recommended to explore the use of
> (unglazed) ceramic vessels in historic contexts?
> And should the contents of bottles only be analyzed in the
> cases of whole specimens or might bottle bases still retain
> detectable traces in them?
>
> Thanks
>
> Jason Ramsey
> University of Chicago