Soil Micromorphology in Urban Research: Early Medieval Antwerp (Belgium) and Viking Age Kaupang (Norway)

Wouters, Barbora; Milek, Karen; Devos, Yannick; Tys, Dries; Jervis, Ben; Broderick, Lee G.; Sologestoa, Idoia Grau

doi:10.1484/m.hdl-eb.5.109547

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…The resulting group portrait of the town's inhabitants was a pioneering effort (Skre 2011a, b). Geoarchaeological analyses have demonstrated the potential of micromorphology to add decisive data (and controversy) regarding activities and the use of space (Wouters et al 2016). Excavations in Ribe also pioneered high-definition strategies in the 1990s, albeit constrained to small surfaces, which proved difficult to interpret (Croix 2015;.…”

Section: Global Villages: the Urban Nodesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Artificial intelligence techniques such as automatic landscape classification and feature detection may further enhance the use of these data (Stott et al 2019). In a similar way, geoarchaeology may refocus attention to hitherto neglected activities (Macphail et al 2013;Milek 2012;Milek and Roberts 2013) and site history (Cannell et al 2016;Devos et al 2013;Macphail and Linderholm 2016;Wouters et al 2016). Zooarchaeology equally has the potential to explore practices such as communal feasting (Mainland and Batey 2018;Zori et al 2013).…”

Section: Settlement and Social Powermentioning

confidence: 99%

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Crossing the Maelstrom: New Departures in Viking Archaeology

Lund

Sindbæk

2021

J Archaeol Res

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This paper reviews the achievements and challenges of archaeological research on Viking Age northern Europe and explores potential avenues for future research. We identify the reemergence of comparative and cross-cultural perspectives along with a turn toward studying mobility and maritime expansion, fueled by the introduction of biomolecular and isotopic data. The study of identity has seen a shift from a focus on collective beliefs and ritual to issues of personal identity and presentation, with a corresponding shift in attention to individual burials and the “animated objects.” Network ontologies have brought new perspectives on the emergence of sea trade and urban nodes and to the significance of outfield production and resources. Field archaeology has seen an emphasis on elite manors, feasting halls, and monuments, as well as military sites and thing assembly places, using new data from remote sensing, geophysical surveys, geoarchaeology, and metal detectors. Concerns over current climate change have placed the study of environment as a key priority, in particular in the ecologically vulnerable North Atlantic settlements. Discussing future directions, we call for alignment between societal/economic and individual/cultural perspectives, and for more ethically grounded research. We point to diaspora theory and intersectionality as frameworks with the potential to integrate genomics, identity, and society, and to ecology as a framework for integrating landscape, mobility, and political power.

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Section: Global Villages: the Urban Nodesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Settlement and Social Powermentioning

confidence: 99%

Crossing the Maelstrom: New Departures in Viking Archaeology

Lund

Sindbæk

2021

J Archaeol Res

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“…A selection of thirty-two samples from the buildings on two plots (3A and 3B) as well as from the midden and harbour deposits have been published in detail (Milek and French 2007). The remaining samples, mostly from plots 1A and 2A, were more recently analysed by the author (Wouters 2012;Wouters and Milek 2015;Wouters and others 2016).…”

Section: A Bio Graphical Approach Focusing On Case Studies From Flanders and Scandinaviamentioning

confidence: 99%

A Biographical Approach to Urban Communities from a Geoarchaeological Perspective: High-Definition Applications and Case Studies

Wouters¹

2020

Journal of Urban Archaeology

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This paper presents an overview of methodo logical and theoretical advances in the geoarchaeo logical study of towns in north-west Europe, c. ad 750-1450. The interpretations based on these new results are anchored within a theoretical framework of 'Bio graphies of Place' . This framework offers a strong fit with geoarchaeo logical methods, and through five themes related to urbanism this paper shows a perspective that bridges geoarchaeo logy and historical context, and allows researchers to challenge accepted narratives that have to a large degree been reliant on the same sets of material evidence. By illustrating the potential of these geoarchaeo logical methods and showcasing their specific contributions, this paper aims to show not only that, but also how, different geoarchaeological methods can most fruitfully be built into research designs of North European medi eval towns. This high-definition approach allows us to come a step closer to a more detailed picture of early medi eval and Viking Age urban communities.

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“…These soils range from buried natural soils, such as alluvial soils or peat deposits in the Senne (Devos, ; Devos & Nicosia, ; Devos et al, ; Fechner, ) and Scheldt valleys (Bellens, Martens, Minsaer, & Schryvers, ; Bellens, Schryvers, & Minsaer, ; Geysen, ), buried Podzols (Depuydt, Kinnaer, & Van de Vijver, ; Fockedey & Smeets, ; Lettany, ,), and buried Luvisols (De Groote, ; Devos, ), to buried soils already showing induced topsoil changes and occasionally induced deep topsoil disturbance (sensu Dudal, Nachtergaele, & Purnell, ). Examples of this are the ancient cultivated soils observed in several town centres like Aalst (Devos, 2012b), Antwerp (Devos et al, 2013a; Wouters, Milek, Devos, & Tys, ), Ghent (Langohr, ), Mechelen (Wuyts, ), Mons (Devos et al, ), and Brussels (Devos et al, ; ). These soils often show thick A‐horizons (>20 cm) due to the addition of soil sods, waste, and/or colluvium/alluvium that got thoroughly mixed within the topsoil.…”

Section: The Present: Key Issues and Current Debatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These soils range from buried natural soils, such as alluvial soils or peat deposits in the Senne (Devos, 2012c;Devos et al, 2017b;Fechner, 2001c) and Scheldt valleys (Bellens, Martens, Minsaer, & Schryvers, 2013;Bellens, Schryvers, & Minsaer, 2010;Geysen, 2009) Nachtergaele, & Purnell, 2000). Examples of this are the ancient cultivated soils observed in several town centres like Aalst (Devos, 2012b), Antwerp (Devos et al, 2013a;Wouters, Milek, Devos, & Tys, 2016), Ghent (Langohr, 2012), Mechelen (Wuyts, 2012), Mons (Devos et al, 2017c), and Brussels (Devos et al, 2007a(Devos et al, , 2009(Devos et al, , 2013b2017a). These soils often show thick A-horizons (>20 cm) due to the addition of soil sods, waste, and/or colluvium/alluvium that got thoroughly mixed within the topsoil.…”

Section: The Impact Of Urbanization On Soilsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Urban geoarchaeology in Belgium: Experiences and innovations

2019

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Geoarchaeological research in urban contexts is a relatively recent development in Belgian geoarchaeology, with pioneering studies dating back to the 1990s. In the beginning of the 21st century, a specific research protocol was developed in Brussels, and in the last years, there have been several attempts to apply a similar approach to urban contexts in Flanders and occasionally in Wallonia. Current debates in urban geoarchaeology mainly focus on: The study of site stratigraphy (microstratified layers and Dark Earths) The impact of urbanization on the soil Rivers in towns Reconstruction of the ancient relief and its modifications through time Soil erosion and soil protection Ancient soil pollution The integration of geoarchaeology with other archaeo‐environmental studies (archaeobotany, archaeozoology, etc.) Key themes for the future development of Belgian urban geoarchaeology include the in situ preservation of sites; a further integration with other methods and method development; systematic studies producing topographical insight and mapping; and synthesis work on critical issues.

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Soil Micromorphology in Urban Research: Early Medieval Antwerp (Belgium) and Viking Age Kaupang (Norway)

Cited by 8 publications

References 0 publications

Crossing the Maelstrom: New Departures in Viking Archaeology

Crossing the Maelstrom: New Departures in Viking Archaeology

A Biographical Approach to Urban Communities from a Geoarchaeological Perspective: High-Definition Applications and Case Studies

Urban geoarchaeology in Belgium: Experiences and innovations

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