Gauging preservation : the effects of oxidising conditions in soils on the preservation of archaeological material data
The development of a comparative database (CDB) based on the relative deposition of iron oxide in soils, and how this relates to variations in oxidising conditions, provides a platform for identifying differing hydrological environments within archaeological sites. The CDB is developed by using geophysical, geochemical and soil micromorphological analyses on non-archaeological sites, representing four major soil/geology types and environments. Oxidation experiments were carried out on these samples to asses the variation between differing rates of oxidation and seasonality influences. Once constructed the CDB was tested using samples taken from archaeological sites of similar soil/geology type, and includes sites ranging from the Mesolithic to the Romano-British period. Archaeological samples were collected from various features and buried soils from five sites: the Late Bronze Age enclosure at Over, the Iron Age ringwork at Wandlebury, the Iron Age enclosures at Sutton Common, the Romano-British site at Marcham-Frilford and the Bronze Age field systems at Shovel Down. The results of this project indicate that the deposition of iron oxide as identified through soil micromorphological analysis has great potential
Hart, A.-M.
Gauging preservation : the effects of oxidising conditions in soils on the preservation of archaeological material data. The development of a comparative database (CDB) based on the relative deposition of iron oxide in soils, and how this relates to variations in oxidising conditions, provides a platform for identifying differing hydrological environments within archaeological sites. The CDB is developed by using geophysical, geochemical and soil micromorphological analyses on non-archaeological sites, representing four major soil/geology types and environments. Oxidation experiments were carried out on these samples to asses the variation between differing rates of oxidation and seasonality influences. Once constructed the CDB was tested using samples taken from archaeological sites of similar soil/geology type, and includes sites ranging from the Mesolithic to the Romano-British period. Archaeological samples were collected from various features and buried soils from five sites: the Late Bronze Age enclosure at Over, the Iron Age ringwork at Wandlebury, the Iron Age enclosures at Sutton Common, the Romano-British site at Marcham-Frilford and the Bronze Age field systems at Shovel Down. The results of this project indicate that the deposition of iron oxide as identified through soil micromorphological analysis has great potential
preservation effect condition soil preservation archaeological_material data development comparative database base relative deposition iron oxide soil relate variation condition provide platform identify differ hydrological environment within archaeological_site develop use geophysical geochemical soil micromorphological analyse non archaeological_site represent four_major soil geology type environment oxidation carry sample variation differ rate oxidation seasonality influence construct test use sample_take archaeological_site similar soil geology type include site range mesolithic romano british period archaeological sample_collect various feature bury soil site late_bronze_age enclosure iron_age iron_age enclosures common romano_british site bronze_age field_system down project indicate deposition iron oxide identify soil micromorphological_analysis great_potential