Analytical Methods:Laboratory Techniques

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Standard laboratory techiques
This set of techniques need to be carried out in a laboratory or well-equipped site hut, but are well established techniques that require little in the way of specialist equipment that won't be available at most standard earth science labratories. Some of the techniques are routinely carried out to characterise deposits and the depositional environment. Others are carried out less routinely but may be of interest in particular situations and to address specific geoarchaeological questions.

These are some of the more commonly used, and generally less expensive, analytical techniques which nonetheless can provide useful additional information about site formation processes and the burial environment.


 * Soil pH
 * Organic matter content
 * Quantitative phosphate analysis
 * Particle size analysis
 * Magnetic susceptibility
 * Bulk density
 * Elemental analysis

The following techniques are less commonly used but can be invaluable in addressing specific geoarchaeological questions.


 * Microscopy
 * Heavy mineral analysis
 * Carbonate analysis
 * Aggregate stability
 * Earthworm granules