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Obtaining Black Carbon—A Simple Method for the Safe Removal of Mineral Components from Soils and Archaeological Layers
Author(s) -
Bartůněk V.,
Dobrovolný K.,
Švecová M.,
Matějka P.,
Šída P.,
Pokorný P.,
Kuchař M.,
Černá E.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
archaeometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.716
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1475-4754
pISSN - 0003-813X
DOI - 10.1111/arcm.12262
Subject(s) - sedimentology , sedimentary depositional environment , geology , geoarchaeology , archaeology , soil water , sedimentary rock , natural (archaeology) , paleoecology , peat , mineralogy , mining engineering , geochemistry , soil science , paleontology , structural basin , geography
In this study, we present a novel, safe method for how to remove inorganic components from soil samples studied for archaeological purposes, in order to improve studies of the distribution of black carbon in the sedimentary record. As the depositional history of this material depends on the interaction between humans and the natural environment, this method can be widely used in archaeology, landscape archaeology, palaeoecology, environmental geology and sedimentology. Our method does not require the use of dangerous hydrofluoric acid, which is commonly used for the removal of silicon oxide from such samples; therefore, this procedure allows even less chemically trained scientists to analyse soil samples with an increased level of work safety.