A New Survey of Grime's Graves—First Report

Sieveking, G. de G.; Longworth, I. H.; Hughes, Michael J.; Clark, Anthony J.; Millett, Allan R.

doi:10.1017/s0079497x0001166x

Cited by 19 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…The application of phosphate analysis in archaeology was first developed in Europe in the 1930s, where pioneering efforts by Arrhenius (1931) and Lorch (1940) were followed by work of numerous scholars, including Dauncey (1952), Sieveking et al (1973), andProvan (1973). Their results indicated that areas of ancient occupation showed elevated concentrations of phosphate.…”

Section: Methodological History Of Phosphate Analysis In Archaeologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The most common application of soil phosphate analysis in archaeology is for pre-excavation prospection to locate or delimit archaeological sites (e.g., Ball and Kelsay, 1992;Dauncey, 1952;Eidt, 1984;Hammond, 1983;Provan, 1973;Sieveking et al, 1973). Soil chemical data provide important clues about activities within a given area when it has been difficult to judge from artifact data alone (e.g., Ball and Kelsay, 1992;Cavanagh et al, 1988;Coultas et al, 1993;Dunning, 1993;Lippi, 1988).…”

Section: Methodological History Of Phosphate Analysis In Archaeologymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Using in‐field phosphate testing to rapidly identify middens at Piedras Negras, Guatemala

2001

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Recent studies have promoted using soil phosphate analysis to detect ancient Maya sites by delimiting areas of occupation based on decomposed organic matter. Refuse associated with human activity increases organic matter around areas of ancient human habitation. Theoretically, the highest concentration of organic matter—detectable by phosphate analysis—should be directly associated with areas of refuse disposal. Thus, the objective of this study is to investigate the potential of phosphate analysis to detect residential middens in Piedras Negras, Guatemala. This paper presents the results of a sensitive, in‐field phosphate analysis method applied as a midden prospection tool in residential areas. Phosphate concentration is correlated with artifact data obtained from a total of 37 test pits excavated in areas of varying phosphate concentration in three residential sites. A positive correlation between phosphate concentration and ceramic density indicates the potential of this method in defining and orienting excavations of residential areas. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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Section: Methodological History Of Phosphate Analysis In Archaeologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodological History Of Phosphate Analysis In Archaeologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Using in‐field phosphate testing to rapidly identify middens at Piedras Negras, Guatemala

2001

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“…First, soil phosphates are analyzed in preexcavation prospecting to locate or delimit archaeological sites before excavation. This has been the most common use of phosphate analysis in archaeology (e.g., Dauncey, 1952;Provan, 1973;Sieveking et al, 1973;Hassan, 1981;Hammond, 1983;Eidt, 1984;Ball and Kelsay, 1992). Second, phosphate analysis is used as a tool in landscape archaeology to examine past agricultural practice (Coultas et al, 1993;Lippi, 1988;Dunning, 1993;Dunning et al, 1997Dunning et al, , 1998.…”

Section: Phosphorus Measurement and Archaeologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantitative phosphorus measurement: A field test procedure for archaeological site analysis at Piedras Negras, Guatemala

et al. 2000

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“…Previous excavations (Clarke, 1915;Greenwell, 1871) (R, 1961, v 3, p 41;1963, v 5, p 106;1969, v 11, p 285;Burleigh, 1975). Excavation of a shaft at Grime's Graves in [1971][1972] yielded 7 more samples of antler and charcoal which provided dates in good general agreement with those for the material from the earlier excavations (R, 1976, v 18, p 32;Mercer, 1976;Sieveking et al, 1973).…”

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confidence: 95%

British Museum Natural Radiocarbon Measurements X

et al. 1979

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Hewson, 1977). The laboratory procedures used were those outlined in the two previous lists (R, 1976, v 18, p 16; 1977, v 19, p 143).Antler anti bone samples were demineralized with 1 N hydrochloric acid at about 20°C to provide pure collagen for 14C age measurement; charcoal samples were pretreated by prolonged boiling in dilute hydrochloric acid. The highly calcareous environment in which these materials had been buried precluded contamination by liumic acids and no pretreatment with alkali was needed.The dates are expressed in radiocarbon years relative to AD 1950, based on the Libby half-life for 7'C of 5570 years, and are corrected for isotopic fractionation (b13C values are relative to PDB). No corrections have been made for natural 14C variations. The modern reference standard was NBS oxalic acid. Errors are based on counting statistics alone and are equivalent to ± 1 standard deviation (± b).The British Museum excavation at Grime's Graves from [1972][1973][1974][1975][1976] has provided a unique opportunity for interdisciplinary study of the problems of dating a large prehistoric industrial site by the radiocarbon method. Previous excavations (Clarke, 1915;Greenwell, 1871) had shown that picks made from the antlers of red deer (Cervus elaphus) were used by the prehistoric miners at Grime's Graves as at other flint mines in S England. The picks were preserved in large numbers in the chalk fill of galleries, shafts and other workings. A number of picks from the excavations of A L Armstrong, who worked at Grime's Graves between ca 1920 and the mid-1930's, were held in the Museum's collections. These and well-provenanced specimens from other archaeologic excavations had already been used to provide a general framework of 17 radiocarbon dates for Grime's Graves and flint mines on the S coast of England Dates obtained over part of the same period for archaeologic sites other than Grime's Graves formed the previous two lists, British Museum VIII and IX; further dates for other sites obtained during this time will form the next two lists, British Museum XI and XII.

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A New Survey of Grime's Graves—First Report

Cited by 19 publications

References 9 publications

Using in‐field phosphate testing to rapidly identify middens at Piedras Negras, Guatemala

Using in‐field phosphate testing to rapidly identify middens at Piedras Negras, Guatemala

Quantitative phosphorus measurement: A field test procedure for archaeological site analysis at Piedras Negras, Guatemala

British Museum Natural Radiocarbon Measurements X

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