Soil micromorphology of archaeological deposits, wih particular reference to floor surfaces on settlement sites in the Western Isles, Scotland
The research is concerned with the analysis of four field identified floors from three multi-period archaeological sites (Bostadh Beach, Isle of Lewis, Cladh Hallan and Bornais, South Uist) in the Western Isles, Scotland. The method employed in the analysis of these four floors is soil micromorphology, a technique that is now established in archaeological analysis, but one that has been seldom applied to deposits in the Western Isles. In particular, the application of the technique to floor sequences in the Western Isles is unique, given that floors have rarely been analysed or even substantially documented in archaeological excavations of structures in the islands. There are three main aims in the analysis of these floors: 1) to highlight the significance and importance of microscale analysis of floors, 2) to determine their composition, formation and possible use, 3) to establish microstructural criteria and characterisation of different materials used for floors. The analysis has revealed that the floors between the three different sites are extremely different. At Bostadh, the floors are dominated by highly organic materials, whilst Cladh Hallan and Bornais floors are sand dominated with fine organic matter.
Tams, Adrian R.
Soil micromorphology of archaeological deposits, wih particular reference to floor surfaces on settlement sites in the Western Isles, Scotland. The research is concerned with the analysis of four field identified floors from three multi-period archaeological sites (Bostadh Beach, Isle of Lewis, Cladh Hallan and Bornais, South Uist) in the Western Isles, Scotland. The method employed in the analysis of these four floors is soil micromorphology, a technique that is now established in archaeological analysis, but one that has been seldom applied to deposits in the Western Isles. In particular, the application of the technique to floor sequences in the Western Isles is unique, given that floors have rarely been analysed or even substantially documented in archaeological excavations of structures in the islands. There are three main aims in the analysis of these floors: 1) to highlight the significance and importance of microscale analysis of floors, 2) to determine their composition, formation and possible use, 3) to establish microstructural criteria and characterisation of different materials used for floors. The analysis has revealed that the floors between the three different sites are extremely different. At Bostadh, the floors are dominated by highly organic materials, whilst Cladh Hallan and Bornais floors are sand dominated with fine organic matter.
soil micromorphology archaeological_deposit particular_reference floor surface settlement_sit western_isles_scotland concerned analysis field identify floor multi_period archaeological_site isle lewis south western_isles_scotland method_employ analysis floor soil micromorphology technique establish archaeological_analysis seldom apply deposit western_isles particular application technique floor sequence western_isles unique give floor rarely analyse even substantially document archaeological_excavation structure island three_main aim analysis floor highlight_significance importance analysis floor determine composition formation possible use establish criterion characterisation different material use floor analysis_reveal floor three_different site extremely different floor dominate highly organic_material whilst floor sand dominate fine organic_matter