Archaeological Soil and Sediment Micromorphology goes beyond a mere review of current literature and features the most up to date contributions from numerous scientists working in the field. The book represents a groundbreaking and comprehensive resource covering the plethora of applications of micromorphology in archaeology. Archaeological Soil and Sediment Micromorphology offers researchers, students and professionals a systematic tool for the interpretation of thin sections of archaeological contexts.
This important resource is also designed to help stimulate the use of micromorphology in archaeology outside Europe, where the technique is less frequently employed. Moreover, the authors hope to strengthen the proper application of soil micromorphology in archaeology, by illustrating its possibilities and referring in several cases to more specialized publications (for instance in the field of plant remains, pottery and phytoliths). Written for anyone interested in the topic, this important text offers:
- Contributions from most of the world's leading authorities on soil micromorphology
- A series of chapters on the major topics selected among the most recurrent in literature about archaeological soil micromorphology
- Systematic descriptions of all important micromorphological features
- Special analytical tools employed on thin sections, such as SEM/EDS, image analysis, fluorescence microscopy, mass spectrometry, among others
- Numerous cross-references
- 400 illustrated full-colour plates
The resource provides the most current and essential information for archaeologists, geoarchaeologists, soil scientists and sedimentologists. Comprehensive in scope, Archaeological Soil and Sediment Micromorphology offers professionals and students a much-needed tool for the interpretation of thin sections of archaeological contexts.
Contributors xiii
Referees xvii
Abbreviations xix
Introduction 1
Georges Stoops and Cristiano Nicosia
Part I: Inclusions in Archaeological Soils and Sediments 9
1 Bone and Other Skeletal Tissues 11
Ximena S. Villagran, Dirk J. Huisman, Susan M. Mentzer, Christopher E. Miller and Miranda M. Jans
2 Avian Eggshell 39
Matthew G. Canti
3 Mollusc Shell 43
Matthew G. Canti
4 Biospheroids Produced by Earthworms 47
Matthew G. Canti
5 Faecal Spherulites 51
Matthew G. Canti and Jacques Élie Brochier
6 Excrements of Herbivores 55
David Brönnimann, Kristin Ismail-Meyer, Philippe Rentzel, Christine Pümpin and Lenka Lisá
7 Excrements of Omnivores and Carnivores 67
David Brönnimann, Christine Pümpin, Kristin Ismail-Meyer, Philippe Rentzel and Natalia Égüez
8 Guano 83
Panagiotis Karkanas
9 Ova of Intestinal Parasites 91
Christine Pümpin, Matthieu Le Bailly and Sandra Pichler
10 Earth Construction Materials 99
David E. Friesem, Julia Wattez and Marylise Onfray
11 Laterite as Construction Material 111
Georges Stoops
12 Turf as Construction Material 113
Dirk J. Huisman and Karen B. Milek
13 Plant Remains 121
Kristin Ismail-Meyer
14 Chaff 137
Cristiano Nicosia and Matthew G. Canti
15 Charred Plant Remains 141
Matthew G. Canti
16 Coal 143
17 Plant Ash 147
Natthew G. Canti and Jacques Élie Brochier
18 Opal Phytoliths 155
Luc Vrydaghs, Yannick Devos and Ákos Peto
19 Siliceous Microfossils from Single-Celled Organisms: Diatoms and Chrysophycean Stomatocysts 165
Elie Verleyen, Koen Sabbe, Wim Vyverman and Cristiano Nicosia
20 Opal Sponge Spicules 171
Luc Vrydaghs
21 Burnt Soils and Sediments 173
Astrid Röpke and Carlo Dietl
22 Burnt Carbonates 181
Matthew G. Canti
23 Calcareous Mortars, Plasters and Floors 189
Georges Stoops, Matthew G. Canti and Selim Kapur
24 Gypsic Mortars and Plasters 201
25 Ceramic Materials 205
Lara Maritan
26 Metals and Metalworking Residues 213
Ivana Angelini, Gilberto Artioli and Cristiano Nicosia
27 Lithic Artefacts 223
Diego E. Angelucci
Part II Current Topics in Archaeological Soil and Sediment Micromorphology 231
28 Soils Disturbed by Vegetation Clearance and Tillage 233
Judit Deák, Anne Gebhardt, Helen Lewis, Maria Raimonda Usai, and Heejin Lee
29 Animal Gathering Enclosures 265
Ruth Shahack-Gross
30 Trampling, Poaching and the Effect of Traffic 281
Philippe Rentzel, Cristiano Nicosia, Anne Gebhardt, David Brönnimann, Christine Pümpin and Kristin Ismail-Meyer
31 Combustion Features 299
Carolina Mallol, Susan M. Mentzer and Christopher E. Miller
32 European Dark Earth 331
Cristiano Nicosia, Yannick Devos, and Richard I. Macphail
33 Amazonian Dark Earths 345
Manuel Arroyo-Kalin
34 Cave and Rock Shelter Sediments 359
Carolina Mallol and Paul Goldberg
Part III Additional Techniques 383
35 Sampling for Soil Micromorphology 385
Georges Stoops and Cristiano Nicosia
36 Fluorescence Microscopy 393
Georges Stoops
37 Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) 399
Lisa-Marie Shillito
38 Isotope Mass Spectrometry (On Microdrilled Powders) 403
Susan M. Mentzer
39 FTIR Microscopy 411
Francesco Berna
40 X-ray Microdiffraction 417
Christoph Berthold and Susan M. Mentzer
41 Micro XRF 431
Susan M. Mentzer
42 Micro-CT Scanning 441
Dominique J.M. Ngan-Tillard and Dirk J. Huisman
43 Electron Probe X-ray Microanalysis (SEM-EPMA) Techniques 451
Clare A. Wilson
44 Reflected Light 461
Bertrand Ligouis
Index 471