Archaeological Soils Analysis, Magnetic Susceptibility Surveys & Geoarchaeological Surveys

SASAA carries out archaeological soils and sediment screening and characterization to answer targeted questions.  We also offer in situ soil and geological surveys.

 

Soil analysis can identify the following activities within an archaeological site...

Soil Analysis

SASAA measures a range of physical and geochemical soil parameters to facilitate our research, based on the questions to be answered. We adhere to British Standard procedures and SASAA in-house protocols to provide a reliable and accurate service...

  • Phosphate analysis (total, inorganic and organic)
  • Magnetic susceptibility
  • Laser-diffraction particle size analysis
  • X-Ray diffraction
  • Textural analysis
  • Organic content
  • Carbonate content
  • pH
  • Conductivity
  • Soil solution composition
  • Total soil elemental composition 
  • Soil micromorphology

Particle size analysis chart. Soil phosphate analysis through a burial cist.

Soil Surveys

  • In situ magnetic susceptibility surveys
  • Geoarchaeological surveys
  • Geomorphological survey
  • Geophysical survey (in collaboration with Dr RE Jones @ GUAD)

Geoarchaeological survey located bog ore source which may have been exploited in Iron age Ireland.

Magnetic susceptibility survey on early Irish bowl furnace. Geoplot (magnetic data) from Moffat Mills.

 

Full details are available on request at.... enquiries@sasaa.co.uk