Micromorphology analysis of a buried soil.

Dating of prehistoric anthropogenic earthworks requires either excavation for archaeological artifacts or macroscopic organic matter suitable for 14C analysis. Yet, the former, in many cases, is undesirable and the latter is difficult to obtain. Here we present a soil science procedure, which has the potential to overcome these problems. It includes careful sampling of buried former soil surfaces, acid-alkali-acid fractionation of soil organic matter (SOM), and subsequent 14C AMS dating. To test the procedure, soil from one of the largest known burial mounds in Scandinavia, Hohøj, and 9 other Danish burial mounds were sampled. The 14C dates from extracted SOM fractions were compared to reference ages obtained by other methods. We show that humic acid fractions in 7 of the 10 mounds had the same age as the reference, or were, at maximum, 280 yr older than the reference ages. The best age estimates were derived from an organic-rich layer from the upper cm of buried soil or sod. Differences among SOM fraction ages probably indicate the reliability of the dating. Hohøj dated to approximately 1400 BC and, thus, was up to 500 yr older than other dated Scandinavian mounds of comparable size. The remaining investigated burial mounds were dated to between 1700 and 1250 BC. We conclude that combined sampling of buried soil surfaces, SOM fractionation, and 14C analysis allows for dating of archaeological earthworks when minimal disturbance is required, or if no macroscopic organic remains are found.

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A Lateglacial palaeosol cover in the Altdarss area, southern Baltic Sea coast (northeast Germany): investigations on pedology, geochronology and botany

Netherlands Journal of Geosciences – Geologie en Mijnbouw ◽

10.1017/s0016774600021478 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 85 (3) ◽

pp. 197-220 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

K. Kaiser ◽

A. Barthelmes ◽

S. Czakó Pap ◽

A. Hilgers ◽

W. Janke ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Cover ◽

Younger Dryas ◽

Soil Surface ◽

Vegetation Pattern ◽

Buried Soils ◽

Radiocarbon Dates ◽

Buried Soil ◽

Nw Europe ◽

Aeolian Sands ◽

Sea Coast

AbstractA new site with Lateglacial palaeosols covered by 0.8 - 2.4 m thick aeolian sands is presented. The buried soils were subjected to multidisciplinary analyses (pedology, micromorphology, geochronology, dendrology, palynology, macrofossils). The buried soil cover comprises a catena from relatively dry (’Nano’-Podzol, Arenosol) via moist (Histic Gleysol, Gleysol) to wet conditions (Histosol). Dry soils are similar to the so-called Usselo soil, as described from sites in NW Europe and central Poland. The buried soil surface covers ca. 3.4 km2. Pollen analyses date this surface into the late Allerød. Due to a possible contamination by younger carbon, radiocarbon dates are too young. OSL dates indicate that the covering by aeolian sands most probably occurred during the Younger Dryas. Botanical analyses enables the reconstruction of a vegetation pattern typical for the late Allerød. Large wooden remains of pine and birch were recorded.

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Preparation and Characterization of Polycaprolactone / Graphene / Zinc Oxide Composites

Key Engineering Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/kem.877.21 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 877 ◽

pp. 21-26

Author(s):

Shuai Yuan ◽

Lin Yuan ◽

Chen Gao ◽

Xue Fei Hu ◽

Chin San Wu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Zinc Oxide ◽

Soil Test ◽

Scanning Electron Micrographs ◽

Biodegradation Rate ◽

Biodegradable Composite ◽

Buried Soil ◽

Oxide Composites ◽

Scanning Electron

Biodegradable composite from polycaprolactone (PCL) and Graphene/zinc oxide (Graphene/ZnO) is studied. The Graphene/ZnO content is at 0.5%, 1.5% in PCL. Neat PCL and composites were characterized by microstructure, mechanical properties and thermal properties. Scanning electron micrographs show that the additive has agglomerated in PCL/Graphene/ZnO. Agglomeration of the filler results in reduced tensile properties of the composite. The result from XRD indicates Graphene/ZnO can improve the crystallinity of PCL. According to the results of buried soil test and analysis, Graphene/ZnO can reduce the biodegradation rate of PCL and make the material more durable. This new biodegradable composite material can be used as a new environmentally friendly material.

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Additional carbon stabilization in temperate subsoils impeded by biogeochemical and hydraulic constraints

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-14580 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Georg Guggenberger ◽

Patrick Liebmann ◽

Robert Mikutta ◽

Karsten Kalbitz ◽

Patrick Wordell-Dietrich ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Management Options ◽

Microbial Decomposition ◽

Organic C ◽

Frequent Exchange ◽

Labelling Experiment ◽

Buried Soil ◽

Fresh Litter ◽

Global Carbon ◽

Microbial Mineralization

Formation of mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) is a decisive process in the stabilization of OM against rapid microbial decomposition and thus in the soils&#8217; role as global carbon (C) sink. Sorption experiments of dissolved OM (DOM) repeatedly showed that particularly mineral subsoils have a large sorption capacity to retain more C. However, there is also an increasing body of literature, revealing an increasing output of dissolved organic C (DOC) from soils. Here, we investigated into this paradox in forest soil under beech by a combination of a field labelling experiment with 13C-enriched litter with a unique DO13C and 13CO2 monitoring, an in-situ C exchange experiment with 13C-coated minerals, and batch sorption experiments.Within two years of 13C monitoring, only 0.5% of litter-derived DO13C entered the subsoil, where it was only short-term stabilized by formation of MAOM but prone to fast microbial mineralization. The 13C monitoring, sorption/desorption experiments in the laboratory, and also the in-situ C exchange on buried soil minerals revealed that there is a frequent exchange of DOM with native OM and a preferential desorption of recently retained OM. Hence, there appeared to be a steady-state equilibrium between C input and output, facilitated by exchange and microbial mineralization of an adopted microbial community. The remobilized OM was also richer in less sorptive carbohydrates. Along with transport of most of DOM along preferential paths, this further increased the discrepancy between laboratory-measured sorption capacities of subsoil and the actual C loading of minerals. Finally, the 13C labeling experiments revealed that input of fresh litter-derived OM into subsoil may even mobilize old-soil derived OM. Hence, in the field different biogeochemical constraints are acting that prevent that the laboratory-based C sink can be reached in the field.&#160; We conclude, that forest subsoils can hardly be considered as additional C sink, even at management options that increase DOC input to subsoil.

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Report on the buried soil

Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society ◽

10.1017/s0079497x00078713 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 53 (S2) ◽

pp. 32-32

Author(s):

Helen C.M. Keeley

Keyword(s):

Calcium Carbonate ◽

Soil Ph ◽

Pollen Analysis ◽

Soil Analysis ◽

High Ph ◽

Acid Grassland ◽

Buried Soil

Present-day soils in the Borwick area form the Carnforth Association, i.e. freely drained gravelly brown earths, some calcareous brown earths and peaty gleys and peaty soils in hollows. pH is normally 6 to 7, with some soil pH higher than 7.The buried soil beneath the cairn was a truncated stagnopodzol with a pH of 7.35. The Eag, Bf and Bs horizons were present but the lack of a topsoil and relatively high pH suggested that pollen analysis of the soil would be unproductive. Similarly, detailed soil analysis was unlikely to add to the interpretation of the site and was therefore not pursued. The development of podsolised soils on such gravels is not unusual and may indicate that the vegetation at the time the cairn was constructed was acid grassland or moorland. The soil pH would have been on the acid side at this stage, rising subsequently due to downward leaching of the calcium carbonate from the overlying limestone of the enclosure.

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A late, postglacial horse from Pashley, Alberta

Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences ◽

10.1139/e70-096 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 1020-1026 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

C. S. Churcher ◽

A. MacS. Stalker

Keyword(s):

North America ◽

Hind Foot ◽

Buried Soil

Elements from the left hind foot of a small horse, probably Equus conversidens Owen, are reported from a few miles southeast of Medicine Hat, Alberta. The bones were found below a buried soil contained within an eastward-striking glacial spillway. A date of about 8000 y B.P. is suggested for the specimens on stratigraphic considerations. If this date is correct, these bones probably represent the youngest indigenous fossil horse known in North America.

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The Identification, Lateral Variation, and Chronology of two Buried Paleocatenas at Woodhall Spa and West Runton, England

Quaternary Research ◽

10.1016/0033-5894(75)90016-2 ◽

1975 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. 551-590 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

K.W.G. Valentine ◽

J.B. Dalrymple

Keyword(s):

Pollen Analysis ◽

Soil Formation ◽

Soil Characteristics ◽

Important Criterion ◽

Buried Soils ◽

Lateral Variation ◽

Marine Clay ◽

Definite Evidence ◽

Iron Mobilization ◽

Buried Soil

Two buried paleocatenas were studied to determine some features and techniques by which buried soils could be recognized, and to define their pedological characteristics, their lateral variation, and their contemporary environment. At Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, a ferric podzol to sandy gley sequence was developed in sands under marine clay and fen peat. The peat was radiocarbon dated at about 4100 yr BP. The buried soil was evident from its obvious catenary character and the soil characteristics and contemporary environment were determined using sand mineralogy, micromorphology, and pollen analysis. At West Runton, Norfolk, an apparently similar ferric podzol sequence occurred in Beestonian sands and gravels under a layer of Cromerian organic muds. However, only the uppermost profile contained definite evidence of soil formation. Other lower profiles contained pseudosoil features produced by sedimentation or diagenetic subsurface iron mobilization. It is suggested that the occurrence of a paleocatena is the most important criterion for the identification of a buried soil. Sedimentation and diagenesis cannot reproduce this lateral variation.

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