Field Analysis:Field Kit

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SASSA Home Page ⇒ Field Analysis Home Page ⇒ Field Kit

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[edit] Field kit for soils recording and sampling

Much of the equipment used in soils recording and analysis is ordinarily found on an archaeological excavation, the list below can be used to build a comprehensive field kit for soil sampling.

• Soil recording and help sheets These can be accessed here and made into a handbook.
• Field interpretation sheets These can be accessed here.
• Munsell® Soil Colour Chart
• Soil and Geology Maps
• Tape measure
• Drawing materials
• Trowel for cleaning sections and sampling
• Knife for cutting out kubiena tins and blocks of soil. The blade should be 10 cm or more long and fold away or be appropriately sheathed for safety.
• Stainless steel spoon for sampling.
• Soil auger for taking core samples.
• Kubiena tins for collecting samples for thin section micrormophology.
• Monolith tins Square section plastic guttering is often used in place of special monolith tins. A hacksaw for cutting guttering to length may also be useful.
• Sealable plastic bags
• Plant water sprayer for moistening samples for colour and texture analyses
• Waterproof marker pens for labelling samples.
• Cling film (plastic food wrap) and elastic bands for wrapping kubiena tins and monoliths.
• Tissue for cleaning tools between samples.

[edit] Field Analyses

A number of very simple semi-quantitative field analyses can be routinely carried out in the field. These include:

• Soil pH Use soil pH to investigate conditions for preservation of artefacts such as bone and shell. This analysis requires:
  • pH paper
  • 100 ml glass or plastic beakers
  • Glass stirring rod
  • Distilled or deionised water

More information on field soil pH determination can be found here.

• Calcium carbonate determination Calcium carbonate determination can be used to identify calcareous soil conditions suitable for preservation of bone and shell, or it may be used to identify calcareous materials such as plater, mortar or tufa. This analysis requires:
  • 1 Molar HCl (Hydrochloric acid)
  • Dropping dispensing bottle

More information on field calcium carbonate determination can be found here.

• Organic matter and Manganese determination Manganese determination can be used to distinguish between charcoal and manganese. This analysis requires:
  • 3-4% H₂O₂ (Hydrogen Peroxide)
  • Dropping dispensing bottle

More information of field organic matter and manganese determination can be found here.

• Phosphate content Phosphate analysis can be used to identify former habitation sites, areas of midden cess, or animal housing, or to help idenitfy a buried soil. This analysis requires:
  • Ashless filter paper
  • Reagent A (30 ml of 5M HCl, 5 g of Ammonium Molybdate dissolved in 100ml of distilled water)
  • Reagent B (1 g Ascorbic Acid dissolved in 200 ml of distilled water)
  • Two Dropping dispensing bottles

More information of field phospate analysis can be found here.

Information on these and other field analyses can be found in Analytical Methods.

N.b. always consult chemical safety data sheets such as these held in this Oxford University database and follow appropriate health and safety protocols before handling any chemicals.