A multi-disciplinary approach to the characterization of waterlogged burial environments : assessing the potential for the in situ preservation of organic archaeological remains
The aim of this study was to characterise waterlogged burial environments and to assess their potential for the in situ preservation of organic archaeological remains. To characterise these environments, environmental parameters were monitored through the soil profile and integrated with a study of the composition and activity of the microbial community. Soil cores were taken from two wetland sites located in the Humberhead Levels in Yorkshire: Hatfield Moor and Sutton Common. Cores were subsampled at depth intervals down to 100 cm depth, to allow for the examination of the vertical distributions of the variables being studied. Redox potential, water level variation and other physico-chemical parameters were measured down the soil profile. Bacterial abundance was determined by direct counts; activity was assayed by extracellular enzyme activity and leucine assimilation. The physiological profile of the microbial community was analysed using BIOLOG and the bacterial community structure was examined by PCR-DGGE. Redox potential readings were positive above the water table and negative below. The bacterial abundance and activity were greatest at the soil surface and, in general, decreased with depth. BIOLOG showed
Douterelo Soler, Isabel
Geography
A multi-disciplinary approach to the characterization of waterlogged burial environments : assessing the potential for the in situ preservation of organic archaeological remains. The aim of this study was to characterise waterlogged burial environments and to assess their potential for the in situ preservation of organic archaeological remains. To characterise these environments, environmental parameters were monitored through the soil profile and integrated with a study of the composition and activity of the microbial community. Soil cores were taken from two wetland sites located in the Humberhead Levels in Yorkshire: Hatfield Moor and Sutton Common. Cores were subsampled at depth intervals down to 100 cm depth, to allow for the examination of the vertical distributions of the variables being studied. Redox potential, water level variation and other physico-chemical parameters were measured down the soil profile. Bacterial abundance was determined by direct counts; activity was assayed by extracellular enzyme activity and leucine assimilation. The physiological profile of the microbial community was analysed using BIOLOG and the bacterial community structure was examined by PCR-DGGE. Redox potential readings were positive above the water table and negative below. The bacterial abundance and activity were greatest at the soil surface and, in general, decreased with depth. BIOLOG showed
multi_disciplinary characterization waterlogged burial_environment assess_potential situ preservation organic archaeological remains aim_study characterise waterlogged burial_environment assess_potential situ preservation organic archaeological remains characterise environment environmental parameter monitor soil_profile integrate study composition activity microbial community soil core take wetland site_locate levels yorkshire common depth interval depth allow_examination vertical distribution variable study potential water level variation chemical parameter measure soil_profile bacterial abundance determine direct count activity enzyme activity assimilation physiological profile microbial community analyse_use bacterial community structure examine potential reading positive water table negative below bacterial abundance activity great soil surface general depth show