Multi-element soil analysis: an assessment of its potential as an aid to archaeological interpretation

Abstract

Multi-element soil analysis is now an established technique in archaeology. It has been used to locate archaeological sites and define the extent of human activity beyond the structural remains, and to aid interpretation of space use in and around archaeological remains. This study aimed to evaluate the consistency of these soil element signatures between sites and hence their potential usefulness in archaeological studies. Known contexts on abandoned farms across the UK were sampled to test the relationships between element concentrations and known functional area and to assess inter-site variability. The results clearly show that there are significant differences in the soil chemistry of contrasting functional areas, particularly for Ba, Ca, P, Zn, Cu, Sr and Pb. Despite significant site specific effects, which appear to reflect individual anthropogenic practices rather than geological influences, there is sufficient similarity in the pattern of element enhancement to allow reliable interpretation of former function using discriminant models. Relating these enhancements to precise soil inputs, however, is more problematic because many important soil inputs do not contain distinct element fingerprints and because there is mixing of materials within the soil. There is also a suggestion that charcoal and bone play an important role in both the loading and post-depositional retention of Ca, Sr, P, Zn, and Cu and thus may be significant in the formation of soil element concentration patterns.

Neolithic land use in the northern Boreal zone: high-resolution multiproxy analyses from Lake Huhdasjärvi, south-eastern Finland

“…Wilson et al 2008). PXRF analysis of unprepared sediment samples can generate semi-quantitative concentration values of high-Z elements applicable for the chemical discrimination of different sediment layers.…”

Precision farming and archaeology

“…Archaeological sites have the potential to enhance or deplete levels of many stable nutrients due to the sites' history. Research has shown that elements such as Ba, Ca, Cu, P, Pb, Zn and Sr are often found in conjunction with archaeological activities (Wilson et al 2008). Little research has, however, been directed at the implications of these geochemical variations from an agronomic point of view.…”

Nutrients in Amazonian Black Earth from Caxiuanã Region

“…Background variation linked to differences in soils can result in patterns of element concentration unconnected to the archaeology. 1 …”

“…The abandonment of human activities in settlements does not affect chemical residue remains in soils. The potential validity of the chemical analysis of soil to interpret archaeological finds lies in its ability to predict significant features based on (i) the chemical signatures of total concentrations of multielements such as Ba, Ca, P, Zn, Cu and Pb in soils; 1 (ii) the chemical signatures of floor samples in the Maya region; 2,3 (iii) the available nutrients in soils from the Brazilian Amazon basin, [4][5][6][7][8] known by designations such as black earth, Indian black earth, anthropogenic black earth, archaeological black earth, Amazonian black earth (ABE) 9,10 or Amazonian dark earths. 11,12 The area in which ABE occurs is characterized by well-drained soil, running water and located in a particular geographical setting from which the surrounding areas can be clearly observed.…”