Abstract
AbstractFluxgate gradiometer surveys on two sites in the coastal plains of The Netherlands showed unexpected results. On the one hand, archaeological features, identified by coring or test trenching, were undetectable owing to a lack of sufficient magnetic contrast between the infill of the archaeological structures and the surrounding natural (salt marsh) sediments. This lack of contrast was shown to be caused by the iron mineralogy and not by iron deficiency of the soil. On the other hand, geological features, interpreted as anoxic shallow creek fills, showed with surprising clarity. Analysis of black‐stained deposits underlying the features identified pyrite and associated iron sulphide minerals as the cause for the magnetic anomalies. The complex iron sulphide/oxide mineralogy of salt marsh environments, coupled with geological history of the sites with multiple marine inundations, indicate that detection and interpretation of magnetic anomalies in the coastal zone of The Netherlands requires both thorough knowledge of the geology and further research into the geochemistry of these deposits. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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