RESEARCH METHOD
Soil geochemistry
Multi-element and chemical proxies of long-term activity and soil processes.
01
What the method shows
Multi-element and chemical differences in soils and sediments across space and stratigraphy.
How we use it in HEL
At Třebokov, geochemistry delineated spatial activity zones; at Ravat it helped distinguish long-term agricultural use, and in Dark Earth studies it forms part of multi-proxy reconstruction.
02
How the method works
Soil geochemistry examines suites of chemical and elemental variables produced by parent material, pedogenesis and human inputs. They may be measured by several techniques; the joint pattern is generally more informative than one concentration.
Systematic grids or profiles separate spatial and stratigraphic gradients. In archaeology some element combinations can be consistent with organic waste, ash, building materials, manuring or long-term use, but always against the background of natural soil variability.
Elements differ in mobility, and natural and anthropogenic processes may create similar signals. Control areas, multiple elements and spatial statistics are therefore central.
pXRF or laboratory chemistry, GIS, stable isotopes, micromorphology and multivariate analysis.
03
In practice
- Input / materialsoil and sediment samples with chemical or elemental variables
- Scale / resolutionprofile, spatial grid and landscape comparison
- Sampling / preparationsystematic sampling tied to the research question and clear spatial metadata
- Typical outputmulti-element patterns, geochemical zones and category comparisons
04
Limits and control
Individual concentrations are not direct evidence of a specific activity; meaning emerges from spatial, stratigraphic and multi-proxy context.
Ravat, Třebokov, Třebokov
05
References and HEL studies
Selected studies underpinning the method descriptions and examples used by Human Earth Lab.