Methods of soil P analysis in archaeology

Holliday, Vance T.; Gartner, William Gustav

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2006.05.004

Cited by 341 publications

(221 citation statements)

References 152 publications

(142 reference statements)

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“…Significant research has focused on the formation and interpretive value of total and available soil P (Holliday and Gartner 2007). Phosphorous is present in inorganic and organic waste, such as bone, plant waste, and charcoal, and remains in place for thousands of years (Sjöberg 1976: 448;Custer et al 1986: 93).…”

Section: Calcium (Ca)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In situ wood burning may also be associated with elevated anthropogenic P, Ca, and iron (Fe) residues (Middleton 2004). Organic and inorganic waste disposal can have a high correlation with elevated quantities of P and manganese (Mn), and ferrous-metal deposits and butchering locales can load the soil with Fe (Parnell, Terry, and Nelson 2002;Wilson, Davidson, and Cresser 2006;Holliday and Gartner 2007). Wilson and associates have identified a positive correlation of elevated Ca, Sr, and Zn associated with hearths, dwellings, byres, and middens on a variety of farm sites in the United Kingdom (Wilson Davidson, and Cresser 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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It's Elemental! A Case Study in the Use of Multi-element Geochemical Analysis as an Aid in Locating Cultural Features at the Foundation Site

Gall¹

2012

NEHA

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Section: Calcium (Ca)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

It's Elemental! A Case Study in the Use of Multi-element Geochemical Analysis as an Aid in Locating Cultural Features at the Foundation Site

Gall¹

2012

NEHA

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“…The "saw-tooth" pattern of the P tot distribution within the total depth of the cultural layers reflects the stages of increase and decrease of anthropogenic pressure during the settlement functioning [12,[35][36][37]. There is no phosphorus depletion within the upper 10 cm, which is surprising after such a long period (more than 3000 years) following the abandonment of this site.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Micromorphological and Chemical Features of Soils as Evidence of Bronze Age Ancient Anthropogenic Impact (Late Bronze Age Muradymovo Settlement, Ural Region, Russia)

et al. 2018

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Abstract:In some cases, the human impact on ancient landscapes has been so profound that local soils still remain significantly affected even after hundreds and thousands of years after ending impact. We studied the Late Bronze Age Muradymovo settlement located in the Urals, Russia, aiming to estimate the consequences of the ancient people's activity on the environment. Despite the present humid climate, the modern soils inside the cultural layer of the study site contain more than 27% of gypsum at a depth of just 10 cm from the surface, and a microrelief of the study site is typical of a gypsum desert. The nearby background Chernozems are gypsum-free to a depth of 2 m. According to the archaeological data, the ancient people belonged to the 'Srubno-Alakul' archaeological culture (1750-1350 years B.C. cal (calibrated years before Christ)) and had a tradition of building their houses from gypsum rocks. At the present time, this area is still unsuitable for human settlement. The properties of modern soils inside the cultural layer of the study site are directly affected by the Late Bronze Age human activities. It has been identified on soil morphology, micromorphology, and chemical properties of soils developed inside the cultural layer of the settlement.

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“…The anthropogenic addition of Ca and P relate to the agricultural use of the fields. These elements are common additions to soils as a result of human activities, including agriculture (Holliday and Gartner, 2007). Anthropogenic addition of Pb and Cu, in most cases, derives from activities related to mining and smelting of local copper ores.…”

Section: Excavation and Geochemical Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental impacts of ancient copper mining and metallurgy: Multi-proxy investigation of human-landscape dynamics in the Faynan valley, southern Jordan

Knabb

Erel

Tirosh

et al. 2016

Journal of Archaeological Science

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a b s t r a c tThe environmental impact of mining and metallurgy is an issue that has affected societies in the ancient Near East over the past 8000 years. We present the results of a multidisciplinary project using agricultural sediments from ancient terraces as a cultural archive of environmental pollution and land use in the copper ore-rich Faynan valley of southern Jordan. Due to the simultaneous production of agricultural goods and copper metallurgy throughout the last 6000 years in the valley, environmental pollution and its consequences for human health have been considered as a factor in settlement abatement. Sediments from two farming terrace systems adjacent to the major mining and smelting locales were analyzed. The sediment analyses included metal concentrations, lead-isotopes and phytolith analysis, and OSL dating. Although measurable concentrations of lead and other heavy metals persist in ancient metallurgical waste piles, our investigations found minimal evidence for contamination in the adjacent terrace systems. Based on these results, we argue that the occurrence of environmental pollution in the Faynan valley is highly variable, and that the distribution of heavy metals resulted from a combination of natural and cultural factors, including persistent landscape features that helped contain the most polluted metallurgical deposits. These findings are significant for understanding the processes of landscape change and human impacts on desert environments, including the ways in which past human actions have negatively affected the environment, as well as preserved and protected the environment from further degradation.

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Methods of soil P analysis in archaeology

Cited by 341 publications

References 152 publications

It's Elemental! A Case Study in the Use of Multi-element Geochemical Analysis as an Aid in Locating Cultural Features at the Foundation Site

It's Elemental! A Case Study in the Use of Multi-element Geochemical Analysis as an Aid in Locating Cultural Features at the Foundation Site

Micromorphological and Chemical Features of Soils as Evidence of Bronze Age Ancient Anthropogenic Impact (Late Bronze Age Muradymovo Settlement, Ural Region, Russia)

Environmental impacts of ancient copper mining and metallurgy: Multi-proxy investigation of human-landscape dynamics in the Faynan valley, southern Jordan

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