Acknowledgements The author is grateful for the lasting support, the stimulating discussions,
and the advice of Paul Smith and Walter R. Caseri, as well as for the helpful suggestions of
A. Dieter Schlu ¨ter, all from the Department of Materials at ETH Zurich.
References
1. Flory PJ (1953) Principles of polymer chemistry. Cornell University Press, London, pp 3–28,
Chap. I
2. Morawetz H (1985) Polymers, the origins and growth of a science. Wiley, New York, pp 3–59,
Chaps. 1–7
3. Morawetz H (1987) Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 26:93–97
4. Braun D (2006) Nachr Chem 54:754–758
5. Weiner J (1999) Acta Archaeometrica 1:1–109
6. Aveling EM, Heron C (1999) Antiquity 73:579–584
7. Regert M, Garnier N, Decavallas O, Cren-Olive ´ C, Rolando C (2003) Meas Sci Technol
14:1620–1630
8. Gru ¨nberg JM (2002) Antiquity 76:15–16
9. Koller J, Baumer U, Mania D (2001) Eur J Archaeol 4:385–397
10. Mazza PPA, Martini F, Sala B, Magi M, Colombini MP, Giachi G, Landucci F, Lemorini C,
Modugno F, Ribechini E (2006) J Archaeol Sci 33:1310–1318
11. Hebbeln D, Wefer G (1997) Paleoceanography 12:65–78
12. Dorn (1877) Correspondenz-Blatt der Deutschen Gesellschaft fu ¨r Anthropologie, Ethnologie und
Urgeschichte 8:63
13. Wadley L, Mohapia M (2008) J Archaeol Sci 35:2594–2605
14. Wadley L, Hodgskiss T, Grant M (2009) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 106:9590–9594
15. Suter UW (2010) Genesis of plastics, a concise history. In: Georg Fischer Piping Systems
(ed) Plastic: 50 years of know-how in plastics. GF Rohrleitungssysteme, Schaffhausen,
pp 16–27. http://www.scribd.com/doc/139987299/anniversarybook-pipingsystems. Accessed
26 June 2013
16. Thompson RC (1936) A dictionary of Assyrian chemistry and geology. Oxford University
Press, Oxford
17. Hanel N, Willer F (2009) In: Busch AW, Schalles H-J (eds) Waffen in Aktion. Akten der 16.
Internationalen Roman Military Equipment Conference (Romec), Xanten, 13–16 June 2007.
Xantener Berichte 16:209–215
18. Newman R, Serpico M (2000) In: Nicholson PT, Shaw I (eds) Ancient Egyptian materials and
technology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 475–493
19. Mestorf J (1877) Die vaterla ¨ndischen Alterthu ¨mer Schleswig-Holsteins. Ansprache an unsere
Landsleute. Otto Meißner, Hamburg, p 17
20. Hosler D, Burkett SL, Tarkanian MJ (1999) Science 284:1988–1991
21. Seydel W (1560) Kunstbuch oder von manigerlai Handwerchsku ¨nsten. Tegernsee. Bayrische
Staatsbibliothek, Codex Cgm 4117. Transcribed edition: Schnitzlein G (1981) Kultur &
Technik 5:57–60
22. Lu ¨dersdorff F (1833) Verhandlungen des Vereins zur Befo ¨rderung des Gewerbefleisses in
Preussen 12:224–233
23. Regnault HV (1838) Annales de Chimie et de Physique 60:151–165
24. Plinius Secundus the Elder (1601) The history of nature, 12th book, Holland P (translator)
Chaps XVII, XX, and XXV. http://penelope.uchicago.edu/ holland/pliny12.html. Accessed
5 July 2013
25. Simon E (1839) Liebigs Ann Chem 31:265–277
26. Blyth J, Hofmann AW (1845) Ann Chem Pharm 53:289–329
78
U.W. Suter
and the advice of Paul Smith and Walter R. Caseri, as well as for the helpful suggestions of
A. Dieter Schlu ¨ter, all from the Department of Materials at ETH Zurich.
References
1. Flory PJ (1953) Principles of polymer chemistry. Cornell University Press, London, pp 3–28,
Chap. I
2. Morawetz H (1985) Polymers, the origins and growth of a science. Wiley, New York, pp 3–59,
Chaps. 1–7
3. Morawetz H (1987) Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 26:93–97
4. Braun D (2006) Nachr Chem 54:754–758
5. Weiner J (1999) Acta Archaeometrica 1:1–109
6. Aveling EM, Heron C (1999) Antiquity 73:579–584
7. Regert M, Garnier N, Decavallas O, Cren-Olive ´ C, Rolando C (2003) Meas Sci Technol
14:1620–1630
8. Gru ¨nberg JM (2002) Antiquity 76:15–16
9. Koller J, Baumer U, Mania D (2001) Eur J Archaeol 4:385–397
10. Mazza PPA, Martini F, Sala B, Magi M, Colombini MP, Giachi G, Landucci F, Lemorini C,
Modugno F, Ribechini E (2006) J Archaeol Sci 33:1310–1318
11. Hebbeln D, Wefer G (1997) Paleoceanography 12:65–78
12. Dorn (1877) Correspondenz-Blatt der Deutschen Gesellschaft fu ¨r Anthropologie, Ethnologie und
Urgeschichte 8:63
13. Wadley L, Mohapia M (2008) J Archaeol Sci 35:2594–2605
14. Wadley L, Hodgskiss T, Grant M (2009) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 106:9590–9594
15. Suter UW (2010) Genesis of plastics, a concise history. In: Georg Fischer Piping Systems
(ed) Plastic: 50 years of know-how in plastics. GF Rohrleitungssysteme, Schaffhausen,
pp 16–27. http://www.scribd.com/doc/139987299/anniversarybook-pipingsystems. Accessed
26 June 2013
16. Thompson RC (1936) A dictionary of Assyrian chemistry and geology. Oxford University
Press, Oxford
17. Hanel N, Willer F (2009) In: Busch AW, Schalles H-J (eds) Waffen in Aktion. Akten der 16.
Internationalen Roman Military Equipment Conference (Romec), Xanten, 13–16 June 2007.
Xantener Berichte 16:209–215
18. Newman R, Serpico M (2000) In: Nicholson PT, Shaw I (eds) Ancient Egyptian materials and
technology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 475–493
19. Mestorf J (1877) Die vaterla ¨ndischen Alterthu ¨mer Schleswig-Holsteins. Ansprache an unsere
Landsleute. Otto Meißner, Hamburg, p 17
20. Hosler D, Burkett SL, Tarkanian MJ (1999) Science 284:1988–1991
21. Seydel W (1560) Kunstbuch oder von manigerlai Handwerchsku ¨nsten. Tegernsee. Bayrische
Staatsbibliothek, Codex Cgm 4117. Transcribed edition: Schnitzlein G (1981) Kultur &
Technik 5:57–60
22. Lu ¨dersdorff F (1833) Verhandlungen des Vereins zur Befo ¨rderung des Gewerbefleisses in
Preussen 12:224–233
23. Regnault HV (1838) Annales de Chimie et de Physique 60:151–165
24. Plinius Secundus the Elder (1601) The history of nature, 12th book, Holland P (translator)
Chaps XVII, XX, and XXV. http://penelope.uchicago.edu/ holland/pliny12.html. Accessed
5 July 2013
25. Simon E (1839) Liebigs Ann Chem 31:265–277
26. Blyth J, Hofmann AW (1845) Ann Chem Pharm 53:289–329
78
U.W. Suter