Abstract
AbstractSingle and multielement archaeological geochemistry has been applied to research and rescue projects for many decades to enhance our understanding of the past use of space. Often applied on one contextual plane, this ignores the complex palimpsest resulting from past occupation and soil processes. Furthermore, many important sites are now heavily truncated by plowing, leaving little more than negative features below the homogenized topsoil. These challenges require new approaches to archaeological geochemistry to gather information before these sites are lost to modern land use. The research presented here applied coring as a sampling method on a truncated site, the sample locations guided by high‐resolution ground‐penetrating radar data and excavation, before using portable X‐ray fluorescence directly on the core samples to understand the phase by phase composition of the deposits and thus past human occupation. The results suggest that even in truncated and secondary contexts, such as the case study of the Viking Age trade settlement of Heimdalsjordet, Norway, archaeological geochemistry can give insight into the chronological and spatial development of the site, and is especially relevant for detecting nonferrous metalworking activity.
Highlights
Background samplingMiddleton and Price (1996) suggested that, ideally, an off‐site horizon should be found that is contemporary to and similar in properties to the measured archaeological horizon, and free from anthropogenic influence, which could be measured for background values
This paper examines the intersection between the application of archaeological geochemistry, the nature of archaeological deposits in excavation and prospection contexts, the sampling methods applied in both methodologies, and their interpretations, as applied to the site of Heimdalsjordet
Manganese and Fe are affected by cycles of reducing and oxidation in soils, which results in a leaching or redistribution of the these elements as they become soluble and are redeposited locally or more widely in oxidizing conditions such as root channels, voids or as the water table fluctuates (Birkeland, 1999)
Summary
Background samplingMiddleton and Price (1996) suggested that, ideally, an off‐site horizon should be found that is contemporary to and similar in properties to the measured archaeological horizon, and free from anthropogenic influence, which could be measured for background values. 3 m a.s.l.) was subsampled on all major horizons to use as rough guide control samples (Figures 4a and 5) This produced some broad geochemical parameters for the marine‐sourced sediments which form the soil's parent material, which were used as a guide only. As many of the cores included subsoil sections, these provided the most relevant comparison material for the anthropogenic layers, as they represent the local conditions and could capture the degree of translocation of geochemical signatures from the above archaeology. This data was incorporated into the statistical analysis. Issues such as leaching and disturbance which can have affected these subsoil samples are considered in the data analyses
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
