Large Scale Geochemical Signatures Enable to Determine Landscape Use in the Deserted Medieval Villages

Over the past several decades the geochemical study of archaeological sediments has experienced an increase in interest from archaeologists in search of new methods to investigate spatial organization and space function. Used with other proxies like geophysics, archaeobotany and micromorphology, geochemistry provides a new insight into microscopic pollution generated by past human activities, and thus can explain or confirm the function of features and spaces. Portable X‐ray fluorescence (pXRF) spectrometry offers new perspectives to the archaeological community to test, develop and integrate geochemical surveys in the daily routine of fieldwork, especially in the developer‐funded archaeology sector. We have undertaken over 20 geochemical surveys using pXRF spectrometry, both in the field and on bulk samples, and from a wide variety of sites, sedimentological, and chronological contexts. Working exclusively on developer‐funded projects, we present a series of results detailing a range of chemical element associations, including details on how the data is organized spatially and how these data may be interpreted. For some associations, such as that between phosphorus, calcium and strontium, our work confirms and builds on existing studies. For other elements such as zirconium, or the association between potassium, chromium and vanadium, our work presents new data patterns as well as a series of new hypothesis; the interpretation of these patterns remains at an early stage and we hope that further work will be done to test and detail the origins of these chemical associations and enrichments, with the goal of confirming the human activities and/or natural processes from which they originated. The rapidity and cost‐efficiency of pXRF, especially when used in situ in the field, makes it the ideal method for documenting the geochemical characteristics of landscapes; the approach we have developed means that geochemical survey can become a regular part of archaeological practice.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Large‐scale geochemical survey by pXRF spectrometry of archaeological settlements and features: new perspectives on the method

Save¹,

Kovacik²,

Demarly‐Cresp³

et al. 2020

“…The approach of non‐invasive geochemical surveying has already been applied with the purpose of exploring ancient activities at archaeological sites in Eastern‐Central Europe. It has been demonstrated that it is a cost‐effective tool that can help reveal anthropogenic geochemical signal of settlement activities or agricultural practices of different ages (e.g., Danielisová et al, 2022; Horák et al, 2018; Horák & Klír, 2017; Janovský et al, 2020; Janovský & Horák, 2018; Salisbury, 2013; Šantrůčková et al, 2020). The design of research varies in these types of surveys (e.g., the depth sample collection, the soil horizons sampled, the grid of the sample area) and are adapted to local environmental conditions, the geological background and to the research questions asked.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The main advantage of geophysical prospection is that extensive areas can be examined in a relatively short time, which facilitates the identification of a wide range of archaeological features (Aspinall et al, 2008; Gaffney, 2008; Milo, 2014). Geochemical surveying enables us to identify the organization of the space and distinguish boundaries or the particular functions of objects and structures, which significantly helps us to understand land‐use activities on archaeological sites (e.g., Janovský & Horák, 2018; Salisbury, 2013; Save et al, 2020). The use of these methods can be especially important in the study of archaeological sites where the objects were situated at the level of the Early Mediaeval surface (and thus were not sunken into the subsoil) and their remains have not been preserved due to unfavourable environmental conditions or where the infilling of archaeological objects cannot be distinguished from the surrounding cultural layer (Seren et al, 2013; Simniškytė et al, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tracing the spatial organization and activity zones of an Early Mediaeval homestead at the Pohansko stronghold (Czechia) by combining geophysics and geochemical mapping

Prišťáková

Adameková

Petřík

et al. 2023

Geoarchaeological prospection techniques were applied to identify activity zones and the inner structure of a homestead at the Early Mediaeval site Pohansko near Břeclav (Czechia). By a combination of geophysical methods, the spatial distribution of microartefacts, geochemical analysis and multivariate statistical analysis, we outlined various manifestations of anthropogenic activity. We examined obtained data by Spearman's correlation coefficient, spatial autocorrelation (Global Moran's I) and robust Principal component analysis to identify the spatial pattern of the area. Recognized joint presence of heavy metals (Pb, Zn and Cu) and elements related mostly to organic matter, waste and ashes (S, P and Ca) as well as a small number of slag fragments probably indicate presence of metalworking zones or mixed zones with domestic and industrial debris at the homestead. Further anthropogenic activities could be connected to manuring, animal management or some kind of production activities based on the presence of Mn, P and Cu. Bone and charcoal concentrations supplement the information of geochemical analysis and may indicate the manner of waste management in the peripheral parts of the homestead. In the middle of the homestead, the location of archaeological features indicates an open space in which no specific activity was detected. By means of magnetic susceptibility and judging from the presence of daub, we defined the potential presence of non‐sunken features, which were not recognized by magnetometry. The outcome of the study is yet to be verified by excavation.

Geochemical and Documentary Topography of a Medieval Silver Valley: Detection of Workshops and Identification of Their Function

Tomczyk,

Bernat,

Belmon

et al. 2024

This paper presents the interdisciplinary investigation (archaeology, geochemistry, history) of a medieval silver and lead production site located in southern France, in the Minier valley (Occitanie, Aveyron, Le‐Viala‐du‐Tarn). In order to identify the production sites, in situ geochemical surveys were carried out using a portable X‐ray fluorescence spectrometer and differential GPS, guided on the analysis of medieval archival sources. The cartographic representation of the metal concentrations in the surface horizons shows significant enrichment of zinc and lead in the vicinity of the mines. This first type of enrichment makes it possible to highlight the activities of separation of sphalerite and silver‐bearing galena. The galena thus isolated on the hillsides is then transported to the vicinity of watercourses, where it is crushed, washed, and smelted. These secondary activities result in a last type of enrichment in which only lead is found in large quantities. The cross‐referencing of the information made it possible to overcome the challenges related to the location of the mineral processing workshops, which were often invisible on the surface. The medieval workshops have been located and a function suggested, outlining the first trends in the spatial and social division of labour and providing a solid corpus for future archaeological excavations. Finally, this study highlights the persistence of significant metal contamination in the soils of a rural valley and encourages the consideration of former mining areas when examining the environmental impact of metal production.