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100:(DEM) in combination with disciplines from human and social sciences and earth sciences. Geoarchaeology is important to society because it informs archaeologists about the geomorphology of the soil, sediment, and rocks on the buried sites and artifacts they are researching. By doing this, scientists are able to locate ancient cities and artifacts and estimate by the quality of soil how "prehistoric" they really are. Geoarchaeology is considered a sub-field of
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Geoarchaeologists study the mineralogical characteristics of pots through macroscopic and microscopic analyses. They can use these characteristics to understand the various manufacturing techniques used to make the pots, and through this, to know which production centers likely made these pots. They
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Whatever the method of getting the phosphorus from the soil into solution, the method of detecting it is usually the same. This uses the 'molybdate blue' reaction, where the depth of the colour is proportional to phosphorus concentration. In the lab, this is measured using a colorimeter, where light
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content – a technique of measuring organic content in soil samples. Samples taken from a known place in the profile collected by column sampling are weighed then placed in a fierce oven which burns off the organic content. The resulting cooked sample is weighed again and the resulting loss in weight
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Trace element geochemistry is the study of the abundances of elements in geological materials that do not occur in a large quantity in these materials. Because these trace elements' concentrations are determined by a large number of particular situations under which a certain geological material is
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ha-1yr-1 about 0.5% to 10% of that already present in most soils. Therefore, it doesn't take long for human occupation to make orders of magnitude differences to the phosphate concentration in soil. Phosphorus exist in different 'pools' in the soil 1) organic (available), 2) occluded (adsorbed), 3)
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The magnetic susceptibility of a material is a measure of its ability to become magnetised by an external magnetic field (Dearing, 1999). The magnetic susceptibility of a soil reflects the presence of magnetic iron-oxide minerals such as maghaematite; just because a soil contains a lot of iron does
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for analyzing and detecting the buried processes down the profile of the section. Narrow metal tins are hammered into the section in a series to collect the complete profile for study. If more than one tin is needed they are arranged offset and overlapping to one side so the complete profile can be
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Geoarchaeologists use this uniqueness in trace element geochemistry to trace ancient patterns of resource-acquisition and trade. For example, researchers can look at the trace element composition of obsidian artifacts in order to "fingerprint" those artifacts. They can then study the trace element
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Naturally occurring
Ostracods in freshwater bodies are impacted by changes in salinity and pH due to human activities. Analysis of Ostracod shells in sediment columns show the changes brought about by farming and habitation activities. This record can be correlated with age dating techniques to
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Kasig, Werner 1980. Zur
Geologie des Aachener Unterkarbons (Linksrheinisches Schiefergebirge, Deutschland) — Stratigraphie, Sedimentologie und Palaeogeographie des Aachener Kohlenkalks und seine Bedeutung fuer die Entwicklung der Kulturlandschaft im Aachener Raum Aachen RWTH Fak Bergbau… "zur
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not mean that it will have high magnetic susceptibility. Magnetic forms of iron can be formed by burning and microbial activity such as occurs in top soils and some anaerobic deposits. Magnetic iron compounds can also be found in igneous and metamorphic rocks.
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Phosphate in man-made soils derives from people, their animals, rubbish and bones. 100 people excrete about 62 kg of phosphate annually, with about the same from their rubbish. Their animals excrete even more. A human body contains about 650 g of
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bound (chemically bound). Each of these pools can be extracted using progressively more aggressive chemicals. Some workers (Eidt especially), think that the ratios between these pools can give information about past land use, and perhaps even dating.
258:(500 g–80% in the skeleton), which results in elevated levels in burial sites. Most is quickly immobilised on the clay of the soil and 'fixed', where it can persist for thousands of years. For a 1 ha site this corresponds to about 150 kg
463:"^ Manuel R. Palacios-Fest, "Nonmarine ostracode shell chemistry from ancient hohokam irrigation canals in central Arizona: A paleohydrochemical tool for the interpretation of prehistoric human occupation in the North American Southwest"
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surfaces and archaeological evidence. Comparative measurements down the profile are made and a sudden rise in organic content at some point in the profile combined with other indicators is strong evidence for buried surfaces.
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The fractions received can be further investigated for cultural indicators, macro- and microfossils and other interesting features, so particle size analysis is in fact the first thing to do when handling these samples.
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and this horizon is an indicator of possible occupation levels. Ancient land surfaces especially from the prehistoric era can be difficult to discern so this technique is useful for evaluating an area's potential for
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Dearing, J. (1999) Magnetic susceptibility. In, Environmental magnetism: a practical guide Walden, J., Oldfield, F., Smith, J., (Eds). Technical guide, No. 6. Quaternary
Research Association, London, pp. 35–62.
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Jonghe, Sabine de -, Tourneur, Francis, Ducarme, Pierre, Groessens, Eric e.a. 1996 . Pierres à bâtir traditionnelles de la
Wallonie - manuel de terrain. Jambes / Louvain la Neuve ucl, chab / dgrne / region
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Geophysical archaeological prospection methods are used to non-destructively explore and investigate possible structures of archaeological interest buried in the subsurface. Commonly used methods are:
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shining through a standard cell produces an electric current proportional to the light attenuation. In the field, the same reaction is used on detector sticks, which are compared to a colour chart.
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Druca, I. C. and Q. H. J. Gwynb (1997), From Clay to Pots: A Petrographical
Analysis of Ceramic Production in the CallejĂłn de Huaylas, North-Central Andes, Peru,
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Phosphate concentrations can be plotted on archaeological plans to show former activity areas, and is also used to prospect for sites in the wider landscape.
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is an indicator of organic content in the profile at a certain depth. These readings are often used to detect buried soil horizons. A buried soil's
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because soil can be altered by human behavior, which archaeologists are then able to study and reconstruct past landscapes and conditions.
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as well as other geographical concepts to contribute an archaeological study. Geoarchaeologists may also use computer cartography,
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The results are plotted on curves which can be analyzed with statistical methods for particle distribution and other parameters.
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Dreesen, Roland, Dusar, M. and Doperé, F., 2001 . Atlas
Natuursteen in Limburgse monumentenx- 2nd print 320pp. . LIKONA
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Slinger, A., Janse, H.. and
Berends, G. 1980 . Natuursteen in monumenten. Zeist / Baarn Rijksdienst voor de Monumentenzorg.
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composition of obsidian outcrops in order to determine the original source of the raw material used to make the artifact.
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formed, they are usually unique between two locations which contain the same type of rock or other geological material.
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Ghilardi, M. and
Desruelles, S. (2008) “Geoarchaeology: where human, social and earth sciences meet with technology”.
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Explaining whether areas of reddening are due to burning or other natural processes such as gleying (waterlogging).
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were deposited. Particle sizes are generally separated by means of dry or wet sieving (coarse samples such as
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Tite, M.S.; Mullins, C. (1971). "Enhancement of magnetic susceptibility of soils on archaeological sites".
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can also use the mineralogy to trace the raw materials used to make the pots to specific clay deposits.
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sonar (sidescan, single-beam or multibeam sonar, sediment sonar) in underwater archaeology
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knowledge and thought. Geoarchaeologists study the natural physical processes that affect
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Identifying hearth areas and the presence of burning residues in deposits.
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which emphasises the value of earth constituents for human life.
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Identify redeposited soil materials in peat, lake sediments etc.
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and magnetic susceptibility means that it can also be used to:
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Geoarchaeologists' work frequently involves studying
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Conservation and restoration of archaeological sites
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