Phosphorus status in archaeological arable topsoil relicts—Is it possible to reconstruct conditions for prehistoric agriculture in Germany?

Lauer, Franziska; Pätzold, Stefan; Gerlach, Renate; Protze, Jens; Willbold, Sabine; Amelung, Wulf

doi:10.1016/j.geoderma.2013.05.005

Cited by 23 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…that topsoil relicts did not hint at any nutrient deficiencies in Neolithic and Bronze Age arable soils, similar to findings for prehistoric phosphorus [8].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

Organic Fertilization and Sufficient Nutrient Status in Prehistoric Agriculture? – Indications from Multi-Proxy Analyses of Archaeological Topsoil Relicts

Lauer

Prost

Gerlach³

et al. 2014

PLoS ONE

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Neolithic and Bronze Age topsoil relicts revealed enhanced extractable phosphorus (P) and plant available inorganic P fractions, thus raising the question whether there was targeted soil amelioration in prehistoric times. This study aimed (i) at assessing the overall nutrient status and the soil organic matter content of these arable topsoil relicts, and (ii) at tracing ancient soil fertilizing practices by respective stable isotope and biomarker analyses. Prehistoric arable topsoils were preserved in archaeological pit fillings, whereas adjacent subsoils served as controls. One Early Weichselian humic zone represented the soil status before the introduction of agriculture. Recent topsoils served as an additional reference. The applied multi-proxy approach comprised total P and micronutrient contents, stable N isotope ratios, amino acid, steroid, and black carbon analyses as well as soil color measurements. Total contents of P and selected micronutrients (I, Cu, Mn, Mo, Se, Zn) of the arable soil relicts were above the limits for which nutrient deficiencies could be assumed. All pit fillings exhibited elevated δ15N values close to those of recent topsoils (δ15N>6 to 7‰), giving first hints for prehistoric organic N-input. Ancient legume cultivation as a potential source for N input could not be verified by means of amino acid analysis. In contrast, bile acids as markers for faecal input exhibited larger concentrations in the pit fillings compared with the reference and control soils indicating faeces (i.e. manure) input to Neolithic arable topsoils. Also black carbon contents were elevated, amounting up to 38% of soil organic carbon, therewith explaining the dark soil color in the pit fillings and pointing to inputs of burned biomass. The combination of different geochemical analyses revealed a sufficient nutrient status of prehistoric arable soils, as well as signs of amelioration (inputs of organic material like charcoal and faeces-containing manure).

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“…that topsoil relicts did not hint at any nutrient deficiencies in Neolithic and Bronze Age arable soils, similar to findings for prehistoric phosphorus [8].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

Organic Fertilization and Sufficient Nutrient Status in Prehistoric Agriculture? – Indications from Multi-Proxy Analyses of Archaeological Topsoil Relicts

Lauer

Prost

Gerlach³

et al. 2014

PLoS ONE

Self Cite

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“…Top soils of ancient times are mostly not preserved in-situ but at most archaeological excavation areas or sites. Ancient pits fi lled with former topsoil is the common practice (Eckmeier and Wiesenberg, 2009;Lauer et al, 2013;Lauer et al, 2014). Soil colour is very important to archaeologists because it is a key determinant of age (Jones and MacGregor, 2002).…”

Section: Colourmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil Scientific Research Methods Used in Archaeology - Promising Soil Biochemistry: a Mini-review

Vranová

Marfo

Rejšek

2015

Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun.

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“…Afterwards, the extracts were filtered (2 µm pore size; blue ribbon filter paper) and filled up with distilled water to 50 ml. This procedure extracts easily soluble, but also slightly soluble, stable phosphates (Lauer, Pätzold, Protze, Willbold & Amelung, ; Galván‐Tejada, Peña‐Ramírez, Mora‐Palomino, & Siebe, ). According to the conception of soil phosphate prospection, phosphate solubility declines the longer phosphate is in a soil (Bakkevig, ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, slightly soluble phosphates are more appropriate for deducing archaeological interpretations (Holliday & Gartner, ), while easily soluble phosphates represent recent conditions. In terms of conceptual phosphate pools, an extraction with 12.1 M HCl would mobilize organic phosphates as well as sorbed, occluded and mineral inorganic phosphates (Galván‐Tejada et al, ; Lauer et al, ; Takahashi, ; Torrent, Schwertmann, & Barrón, ). Recalcitrant phosphate within occlusions or minerals like apatite would not, or at least insufficiently, be extracted by this procedure (Galván‐Tejada et al, ; Syers, Johnston, & Curtin, ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…95°C for 2 h, then filtered (2 µm pore size; blue ribbon filter paper) and filled up to 50 ml with distilled water. This procedure extracts easily and slightly soluble phosphates along with recalcitrant organic and inorganic P forms (e.g., strongly occluded P, highly crystalline P minerals; Lauer et al, ). However, the procedure does not determine total P (Hornburg & Lüer, ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Could oxalate‐extractable phosphorus replace phosphorus fractionation schemes in soil phosphorus prospections?—A case study in the prehistoric Milseburg hillfort (Germany)

et al. 2019

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A geoarchaeological soil phosphorus (P) prospection is used to identify a gate within the prehistoric rampart of the Milseburg hillfort (Hesse, Germany). This study compares the application of a P fractionation scheme and P extraction with ammonium‐oxalate. We hypothesized that oxalate‐extractable P (P‐ox) and the related degree of P saturation (DPS) could replace the more expensive and time‐consuming fractionation schemes for geoarchaeological investigations. Comparing the results, the P fractionation helped to verify the existence of another section of the prehistoric ramparts and to identify the location of a gate within it. It also helped to discover the archaeologically relevant soil depths in the investigated area. This information could not be retrieved from the P‐ox data alone. Soil P‐ox contents and DPS values are relatively unspecific with regard to prehistoric land use. However, DPS at least indicates settled versus unsettled areas. Still, the results of the P fractionation more clearly delineate Iron Age land use areas including settlement, non‐settlement, rampart, and rampart gap (probable gate). Thus, in geoarchaeological contexts, this method seems to be preferable to a singular P‐ox extraction. However, for better results, P‐ox determination could be integrated into a P fractionation scheme.

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Phosphorus status in archaeological arable topsoil relicts—Is it possible to reconstruct conditions for prehistoric agriculture in Germany?

Cited by 23 publications

References 31 publications

Organic Fertilization and Sufficient Nutrient Status in Prehistoric Agriculture? – Indications from Multi-Proxy Analyses of Archaeological Topsoil Relicts

Organic Fertilization and Sufficient Nutrient Status in Prehistoric Agriculture? – Indications from Multi-Proxy Analyses of Archaeological Topsoil Relicts

Soil Scientific Research Methods Used in Archaeology - Promising Soil Biochemistry: a Mini-review

Could oxalate‐extractable phosphorus replace phosphorus fractionation schemes in soil phosphorus prospections?—A case study in the prehistoric Milseburg hillfort (Germany)

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