A preliminary chronological study to understand the construction phases of a Late Copper–Early Bronze Age kurgan (kunhalom)

The aim of this study is to identify the milestones of landscape evolution around the Ecse Mound (Karcag-Kunmadaras, Hortobágy National Park, Hungary) in the Holocene period by sedimentological and malacological analysis of strata underneath and within the body of the kurgan concerned, including that of the same characteristics of the artificially piled layers. An undisturbed core drilling was carried out and the sedimentological properties of both the mound and of the substrate baserock were revealed, analysis of which has been supported by three radiocarbon (AMS) measurements. The baserock formation during the last phase of the Ice Age, Middle and Upper Pleniglacial, and Late Glacial phases was followed by soil development in the Holocene, while the mound was constructed in two phases at the end of the Copper Age by the communities of the Pit Grave (Yamna or Ochre Grave) Culture. By publishing these preliminary data, it is also intended to draw attention to the need of focused research efforts by standardized methodology in kurgan research, in order to make the results of different studies consistent and comparable.

Foraminiferal stratigraphy in a marine Eemian­Weichselian sequence at Apholm, North Jutland

Undisturbed core material is investigated for the first time from a marine Quaternary sequence through the Eemian of North Jutland. Core samples were examined from 86 m-190 m depth in a 202.6 m deep boring at Apholm. The marine sequence from that interval was subdivided into 4 biozones based on its foraminiferal content. Zone AP3 (190-140 m) contains boreal and boreal-lusitanian faunas indicating a water depth of at least 60-100 m. This zone is referred to the Eemian Interglacial. The Late Saatian/Eemian transition is identified at 190.2 m depth (AP4). The faunas of zone AP2 (140-113 m) record the onset of a major deterioration in climate and a considerable shallowing of the marine environment. The climate is then seen to fluctuate between arctic and boreal-arctic in zone APl (113 m to at least 86 m). This indicates the succeeding stadia! and interstadial periods. Zones AP2 and APl are referred to the Early and Middle Weichselian. The foraminiferal zones at Apholm are compared with the marine sequence at Skrerumhede. In addition, an attempt is made to relate these zones to the oxygen isotope chronology and to the Late Quaternary climatic regimes of the Norwegian Sea.

Preferential solute movement through larger soil voids. Ii. Experiments with saturated soil

Miscible displacement experiments, with chloride and phosphate ions in the displacing solution, were conducted on soil material manipulated to contain different void geometries. In packed 50 mm long columns of 0.2-0.5 mm aggregates the displacing solution moved fairly uniformly through the soil, with the relative chloride concentration in the effluent reaching 0.5 approximately 8 min after chloride was applied to the surface. The relative phosphate concentration reached 0.5 after approximately 7 h. In 50 mm long cast-columns of the same soil material containing a single cylindrical channel 0.5 mm in diameter, or a slit 12 mm by 0.2 mm, both chloride and phosphate moved almost instantaneously through the columns, reaching a relative concentration of 0.5 in less than a minute. The cast columns and packed aggregate columns all had similar hydraulic conductivities. These results are in general agreement with a previously developed theoretical model. An 'undisturbed' core of the same soil showed similar pronounced preferential movement of chloride and phosphate, indicating the presence of a continuous void greater than the critical minimum size. However, in contrast a duplicate core gave results more like those found for the columns of aggregates. Soil water retentivity curves are shown to be of very limited value for predicting preferential solute movement.

MEASUREMENT OF UNSATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY WITH A MULTIPLE UNDISTURBED CORE METHOD

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