Publication Date:
2021-10-14
Description:
A geoarchaeological soil phosphorus (P) prospection is used to identify a gate within the prehistoric rampart of the Milseburg hillfort (Hesse, Germany). This study compares the application of a P fractionation scheme and P extraction with ammonium-oxalate. We hypothesized that oxalate-extractable P (P-ox) and the related degree of P saturation (DPS) could replace the more expensive and time-consuming fractionation schemes for geoarchaeological investigations. Comparing the results, the P fractionation helped to verify the existence of another section of the prehistoric ramparts and to identify the location of a gate within it. It also helped to discover the archaeologically relevant soil depths in the investigated area. This information could not be retrieved from the P-ox data alone. Soil P-ox contents and DPS values are relatively unspecific with regard to prehistoric land use. However, DPS at least indicates settled versus unsettled areas. Still, the results of the P fractionation more clearly delineate Iron Age land use areas including settlement, non-settlement, rampart, and rampart gap (probable gate). Thus, in geoarchaeological contexts, this method seems to be preferable to a singular P-ox extraction. However, for better results, P-ox determination could be integrated into a P fractionation scheme.
Keywords:
551.9
;
631.4
;
Milseburg
;
oxalate-extractable phosphorus
;
phosphorus fractionation
;
phosphorus saturation
;
soil phosphorus prospection
Language:
English
Type:
map
