Graves under the microscope : micromorphological study of sediments in archaeological burials
The InterArChive project investigated the sediment of the grave fills of archaeological burials. This study applied micromorphological analysis, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and image analysis on sediments of seventeen graves spanning from 4th C BC - 15th C AD and three experimental piglet burials (2009-2013). A new standardized and rapid method was developed for the measurement of porosity. The grave types comprised wooden coffin, absence of coffin and chamber tombs. The sediments were sandy clay soils, variably affected by water-logged conditions, from temperate oceanic climates; sandy loam soil and limestone and sandstone deposits in Mediterranean climates. The microstructure of the backfill, features produced by the decomposition of the corpse and interactions with the surrounding sediment, secondary products related to the environmental conditions in the grave, degree of weathering of bone fragments in the different contexts, preservation of organic components from the graves and biological activity during and after the corpse decomposition were investigated. The results showed that corpse decomposition within the soil produced characteristic microstructures and
Ghislandi, Sabina
Graves under the microscope : micromorphological study of sediments in archaeological burials. The InterArChive project investigated the sediment of the grave fills of archaeological burials. This study applied micromorphological analysis, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and image analysis on sediments of seventeen graves spanning from 4th C BC - 15th C AD and three experimental piglet burials (2009-2013). A new standardized and rapid method was developed for the measurement of porosity. The grave types comprised wooden coffin, absence of coffin and chamber tombs. The sediments were sandy clay soils, variably affected by water-logged conditions, from temperate oceanic climates; sandy loam soil and limestone and sandstone deposits in Mediterranean climates. The microstructure of the backfill, features produced by the decomposition of the corpse and interactions with the surrounding sediment, secondary products related to the environmental conditions in the grave, degree of weathering of bone fragments in the different contexts, preservation of organic components from the graves and biological activity during and after the corpse decomposition were investigated. The results showed that corpse decomposition within the soil produced characteristic microstructures and
microscope micromorphological study sediment archaeological burial project_investigate sediment grave fill archaeological burial study apply micromorphological_analysis scan_electron microscopy_energy dispersive spectroscopy sem_eds image_analysis sediment seventeen graf span experimental burial new rapid method_develop measurement porosity grave type comprise wooden coffin absence coffin chamber_tomb sediment clay soil affect water condition temperate oceanic climate soil limestone deposit mediterranean climate microstructure feature produce decomposition corpse interaction surround sediment secondary_product relate environmental_condition grave degree weather bone fragment different_context preservation organic component grave biological activity corpse decomposition investigate show corpse decomposition within soil produce characteristic