Abstract
Mortars from different stratigraphic units at Portilla Castle (Alava, North Spain) have been analyzed for mineralogical characterization before radiocarbon dating. The mortar binder at Portilla Castle is composed not only of neoformation calcite but also of double-layered hydroxide (LDH) minerals such as hydrotalcite and hydrocalumite. The mineralogy of several fractions of the binder has been analyzed to determine the granulometric distribution of minerals in the binder. The continuous monitoring of mineralogy during the extraction of different grain size fractions has been performed by using a scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analyses (TGA). Hydrotalcite and hydrocalumite-bearing mortar binders give older ages than expected since they introduce dead carbon into the system.
Highlights
One of the main goals in building archaeology is to determine the age of the structures discovered.In the absence of written records or other archaeological evidence to establish the chronology of the building, traditionally wooden timbers are used in radiocarbon dating [1]
Petrographic studies of mortar have been used to identify the nature of aggregates and the Petrographic studies of mortar have the been used to identify the nature of aggregates and and the binder
Castle mortars are in formed by effective calcitic binder and quartz, limestone fragments, some is determined, the most preconditioning method should be established forof each sample in partially dolomitized, andsuitable unburnt limestone remains as aggregates
Summary
In the absence of written records or other archaeological evidence to establish the chronology of the building, traditionally wooden timbers are used in radiocarbon dating [1] Through this way, the date obtained may point to older ages due to material reuse or long storage. It is vital to determine that the historical remains are not affected by the use of older construction materials since the reuse of wood materials leads to an in-built age defined as the difference between the time when the wood formed and the date of the event of interest [2,3,4,5] In this framework, mortars can provide a potential dating solution. The ease of preparation as well as the availability of raw materials and their durability have contributed to make mortars ubiquitous materials at sites from the Neolithic period onwards, which becomes an important source of information in archaeological sites [6,7]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
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.
