Prospecting the physicochemical past : three dimensional geochemical investigation into the use of space in Viking Age sites in southern Norway using portable XRF
This research centres on the use of portable X-Ray fluorescence (XRF) as a tool for archaeological geochemistry. The instrument was used as part of varied contextual, vertical and horizontal sampling strategies on three Viking Age sites in southern Norway in order to investigate archaeological geochemistry as a method of better understanding spatial and temporal variation in occupation deposits. Archaeological deposits are often truncated, redeposited or otherwise disturbed, which limits the application of more established methods for geochemical sampling by means of a static, horizontal grid. Instead, flexible sampling strategies were developed that included coring as a prospection method combined with high-resolution GPR data. The combination of portable XRF and coring, both within excavation contexts and as prospection, allowed high resolution analysis directly onto the core. The minimal sample preparation allowed a greater data volume to be gathered, and the data provided a geochemical chronological sequence for the deposits. Thus, both spatial and temporal planes were accessible where the archaeological material was suitable. The validity of this method, as well as the use of portable XRF for geochemical
Cannell, Rebecca J. S.
Prospecting the physicochemical past : three dimensional geochemical investigation into the use of space in Viking Age sites in southern Norway using portable XRF. This research centres on the use of portable X-Ray fluorescence (XRF) as a tool for archaeological geochemistry. The instrument was used as part of varied contextual, vertical and horizontal sampling strategies on three Viking Age sites in southern Norway in order to investigate archaeological geochemistry as a method of better understanding spatial and temporal variation in occupation deposits. Archaeological deposits are often truncated, redeposited or otherwise disturbed, which limits the application of more established methods for geochemical sampling by means of a static, horizontal grid. Instead, flexible sampling strategies were developed that included coring as a prospection method combined with high-resolution GPR data. The combination of portable XRF and coring, both within excavation contexts and as prospection, allowed high resolution analysis directly onto the core. The minimal sample preparation allowed a greater data volume to be gathered, and the data provided a geochemical chronological sequence for the deposits. Thus, both spatial and temporal planes were accessible where the archaeological material was suitable. The validity of this method, as well as the use of portable XRF for geochemical
past three_dimensional geochemical investigation use_space viking_age sit southern norway use portable xrf centre use portable x_ray_fluorescence xrf tool archaeological geochemistry instrument use part vary contextual vertical horizontal sampling strategy viking_age sit southern norway order_investigate archaeological geochemistry method well spatial_temporal variation occupation deposit archaeological_deposit often otherwise disturb limit application establish method geochemical sampling mean static horizontal grid instead flexible sampling strategy develop include core prospection method_combine high_resolution gpr data combination portable xrf within excavation context prospection allow high_resolution analysis directly onto core minimal sample preparation allow great data volume gather_data provide geochemical chronological_sequence deposit thus spatial_temporal plane accessible archaeological_material suitable validity method well use portable xrf geochemical