Abstract
This article describes a method of retrieving a large intact soil block from the midden area of the Sylvester Manor site. The soil was micro-stratigraphically excavated within a laboratory setting and analyzed using new approaches to the direct observation of micro-artifact distributions and trace residues on soil surfaces. Low technology analytical methods were selected from fields unrelated to archaeology but readily accessible to workers in a standard archaeological processing laboratory. Preliminary findings are presented in the hope that new low-cost field and laboratory methods can be developed. For example particle mapping of micro-artifacts by direct observation of soil profiles is explored as a possible method of determining the relative dates of bioturbated deposits. A method of visualizing degraded proteins on soil surfaces by ultraviolet fluorescence tagging is presented as a way of collecting soft tissue residues. Lastly, the use of density beads with an aqueous heavy liquid is shown as a promising method for the collection of heavy minerals from soil samples.
DOI
10.22191/neha/vol36/iss1/8
Recommended Citation
Piechota, Dennis
(2007)
"The Laboratory Excavation of a Soil Block from Sylvester Manor,"
Northeast Historical Archaeology:
Vol.
36
36, Article 8.
https://doi.org/10.22191/neha/vol36/iss1/8
Available at:
https://orb.binghamton.edu/neha/vol36/iss1/8
