MARINE RESERVOIR EFFECT OF SPERMACETI, A WAX OBTAINED FROM THE HEAD OF THE SPERM WHALE: A FIRST ESTIMATION FROM MUSEUM SPECIMENS

• Published in: Radiocarbon
• Main Authors: Beck, Lucile, Caffy, Ingrid, Delqué-Količ, Emmanuelle, Dumoulin, Jean-Pascal, Hain, Stéphane, Moreau, Christophe, Perron, Marion, Sieudat, Marc, Thellier, Bruno, Van Hove, Charlotte
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2022
• Subjects: Physeter macrocephalus; Sperm whale
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/rdc.2022.79; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0033822222000790

ABSTRACT Spermaceti is a waxy substance found in the head cavities of sperm whales ( Physeter macrocephalus and P. catodon ). This substance had a variety of commercial applications from the end of the 18th to the beginning of the 20th century, such as candles, soap, cosmetics and other compounds. S...