Wilson, C. A., Davidson, D. A. and Cresser, M. (2008). Multi-element soil analysis:. J Archaeol Sci 35 (2). Vol 35(2), pp. 412-424.
Title The title of the publication or report |
Multi-element soil analysis: | |||
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Subtitle The sub title of the publication or report |
an assessment of its potential as an aid to archaeological interpretation | |||
Issue The name of the volume or issue |
J Archaeol Sci 35 (2) | |||
Series The series the publication or report is included in |
Journal of Archaeological Science | |||
Volume Volume number and part |
35 (2) | |||
Page Start/End The start and end page numbers. |
412 - 424 | |||
Biblio Note This is a Bibliographic record only. |
Please note that this is a bibliographic record only, as originally entered into the BIAB database. The ADS have no files for download, and unfortunately cannot advise further on where to access hard copy or digital versions. | |||
Publication Type The type of publication - report, monograph, journal article or chapter from a book |
Journal | |||
Abstract The abstract describing the content of the publication or report |
Multi-element soil analysis has been used to locate archaeological sites and define the extent of human activity beyond structural remains, and to aid interpretation of space use in and around archaeological remains. The 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. | |||
Year of Publication The year the book, article or report was published |
2008 | |||
Locations Any locations covered by the publication or report. This is not the place the book or report was published. |
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Source Where the record has come from or which dataset it was orginally included in. |
BIAB
(The British & Irish Archaeological Bibliography (BIAB))
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Created Date The date the record of the pubication was first entered |
21 Jul 2008 |