Chemical Analyses of Ancient Anthrosols in Residential Areas at Piedras Negras, Guatemala

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

“…Several studies of archaeological sites demonstrate a relationship between phosphate concentrations found in the soil and areas of specific household activities (Barba et al, 1987;Cavanagh et al, 1988;Craddock et al, 1986;Dunning, 1993;Killion et al, 1989;Konrad et al, 1983;Manzanilla and Barba, 1990;Middleton and Price, 1996;Ortiz and Barba, 1993;Proudfoot, 1976;Robin, 1999;Sá nchez et al, 1996;Terry et al, 2000;Wells et al, 2000). Ethnographic studies also illustrate the relationship between phosphate concentration and domestic activities (Barba and Ortiz, 1992).…”

“…The general acceptance and application of chemical methods in archaeology was relatively slow, particularly in America, until the influential work of Eidt (1973). Since that time, increasing numbers of researchers have focused on the relationships between the chemical signatures left in the soil and ancient, as well as modern, activities (e.g., Ball and Kelsay, 1992;Barba and Ortiz, 1992;Coultas et al, 1993;Dunning, 1993;Jacob, 1995;Manzanilla and Barba, 1990;Wells et al, 2000).…”

An ethnoarchaeological study of chemical residues in the floors and soils of Q'eqchi' Maya houses at Las Pozas, Guatemala

“…Investigations carried out by Manzanilla and Barba (1990) establish some general chemical patterns of various ancient activities, such as rest or sleeping areas, areas of food preparation and consumption, and areas of heavy foot traffic (see also Barba et al, 1995;de Pierrebourg, 1999). We have used soil phosphate analysis at the Classic Maya site of Piedras Negras, Guatemala as a prospection tool to identify the locations of middens Wells et al, 2000). Parnell et al (2001) reported a significant positive correlation between sherd density of test pits and surface soil phosphorus concentrations.…”

“…Metallic ions remain stable in alkaline soils for long periods in the form of adsorbed and complexed ions on clay surfaces and as insoluble oxides, sulfates, or carbonates (Lindsay, 1979;Wells et al, 2000;Parnell, 2001;Parnell et al, 2002). Manzanilla (1996) (Goffer, 1980: 167 -173; see also Vá squez and Velá zquez [1996a, 1996b] for examples).…”

“…Thus, trace metal analysis of soils in and around residential and ceremonial architecture may help to identify areas related to pigment processing and other activities. Trace metal extraction and ICP/AES (inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy) analysis of soil and floor samples at Piedras Negras, Guatemala, have provided evidence of workshop and painting activities (Wells et al, 2000). Middleton and Price (1996) used dilute HCl extraction of soil and floor samples from British Columbia, Canada, and Oaxaca, Mexico, followed by ICP/AES analysis.…”