International congress of byzantine studies belgrade, 22 27 august 2016

Jago-Jonathan Birk
Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany; 
[e-mail]
Miriam Steinborn
Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum, Mainz, Germany; 
[e-mail]
Ivan Bugarski
Institute of Archaeology, Belgrade, Serbia; 
[e-mail]
Rainer Schreg
Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum, Mainz, Germany; 
[e-mail]
Soil Analyses at Caričin Grad – Element Mapping and Biomarker Analyses
The potential of soil analyses in archaeology was recognized at the beginning of the last century. 
However, soils and sediments were analysed only in a relatively small number of excavations. The 
applicability of these analyses in archaeology is still restricted by a limited knowledge of their 
validity. In an ongoing project at the Caričin Grad site, soil analyses are performed that were 
classically proposed in an archaeological context as well as more recently developed analyses. Soil 
samples were collected in dense grids in middle class buildings and adjacent open areas, which were 
excavated 2014 and 2015. Areas that received high inputs of organic residues are divided from other 
areas by classical mapping of phosphate concentrations. The results of these analyses are compared 
by the results of more recently developed simultaneous analyses of several elements (multi-element 
mapping). In selected samples from areas with high organic inputs, specific organic molecules 
are analysed. These biomarker analyses are performed to identify more precisely areas of food 
production and consumption, places of waste disposal and latrines as well as animal husbandry.
Furthermore, it is aimed to use biomarker analyses for the identification of animals that were kept 
within the settlement. First results of element-mapping showed that areas with high and areas with 
low element concentrations were grouped in distinct clusters. These results showed that element 
mapping can be successfully applied at the Caričin Grad site. Additionally, first results of ongoing 
biomarker analyses will be presented.

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