Chemical analysis of archaeologically important samples from waterlogged, temperate and arid environments
The overall aim of this project was to integrate chemical and archaeological techniques by the study of a number of specific individual cases from temperate, semi-arid and waterlogged sites. Samples taken from a Roman road profile at the temperate site of Silchester were found to be composed of chert and kaolinite. No phosphate, an indicator for human/animal activity was identified. Analysis of the metal content of the road samples showed high levels of iron in all layers with the highest percentage found in the orange layer. The iron may be present as an iron silicate which is found around areas where metalworking (especially ironworking) took place.
Marshall, Lisa-Jane R.
Chemical analysis of archaeologically important samples from waterlogged, temperate and arid environments. The overall aim of this project was to integrate chemical and archaeological techniques by the study of a number of specific individual cases from temperate, semi-arid and waterlogged sites. Samples taken from a Roman road profile at the temperate site of Silchester were found to be composed of chert and kaolinite. No phosphate, an indicator for human/animal activity was identified. Analysis of the metal content of the road samples showed high levels of iron in all layers with the highest percentage found in the orange layer. The iron may be present as an iron silicate which is found around areas where metalworking (especially ironworking) took place.
chemical_analysis archaeologically important sample waterlogged temperate arid environment overall_aim project integrate chemical archaeological technique study number specific_individual case temperate semi_arid waterlogged site samples take roman_road profile temperate site find compose phosphate indicator human_animal activity identify analysis metal content road sample show high_level iron layer high percentage find layer iron may present iron find around area metalworking especially take_place