Soil Phosphate Analysis: A New Technique for Measurement in the Field Using a Test Strip*

Abstract

A new method ,for soil phosphate cinulysis has been develope,c.rlJor field rneosurement which will increase the applicability of phosphate inupping in archaeological prospection.

Rapid, in-stride soil phosphate measurement in archaeological survey: a new method tested in Loudoun County, Virginia

“…By making use of the full spectrum analysis, the presence of interferons may be detected through changes in the static and kinetic absorption spectra, allowing for either alternate analysis or further chemical treatment in order to obtain a true quantitative phosphate measurement. This fullspectral method provides a similar advantage over the strip test described by Persson (1997).…”

Archaeological prospection of a high altitude Neolithic site in the Arctic mountain tundra region of northern Sweden

“…In the case of the Swedish mountain tundra region, however, there is most often only one single (cultural) soil layer, which suggests that this region may be especially suitable for such a method. A field phosphate analysis kit from Merck was used to test the method (Persson, 1997).…”

“…The value displayed on the photometer was finally multiplied by five to get the correct phosphate concentration in the analysed soil sample. The system has a measurement range of 25e600 ppm PO 4 0 e in the soil (see Persson, 1997 for further details).…”

“…Soil samples for phosphate analysis were collected with a probe and the analysis was performed using the Merck field kit (Persson, 1997). During the analysis 5 ml of water and ten drops of sulphuric acid (0.2 M) was mixed with 1 ml of soil and left to react for two minutes.…”

Archaeological prospection in the Swedish mountain tundra region

“…Another general problem of the method is the diff erentiation between recent and pre-historical phosphate depositions. In order to test the method a fi eld phosphate analysis kit from Merck was used (Persson, 1997).…”