Application of a New Method of Sediment Identifictaion to Geoarchaeology

Abstract

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Sediment analysis is a fundamental and most important parameter in geoarchaeology. Sieve sedimentation and laser diffraction methods are the main techniques that have been using to measure the particle size distribution in soil samples. The laser diffraction method is based on measuring the scattered laser beam on particles. Mastersizer (Malvem, UK) is typical of equipment that uses the laser diffraction technique to measure the particle sizes and have used for most of the geoarchaeological applications. A new technique Morphologi G3 (Malvem, UK) instrument measures the size, shape and chemical composition of the particles in a sample at the same time. This instrument provides the ability to measure the multiple parameters for an individual particle. These include surface area (in pixels and micrometers), length, width, aspect ratio, maximum distance, CE diameter, perimeter, circularity, convexity, elongation, solidity, spherical equivalent volume, intensity and X and Y co-ordinates. This is a high sensitivity high resolution analytical tool for differentiating and characterization of a particular sample. The Morphologi G3 instrument can also be used as a fully featured manual microscope capable of capturing high-resolution images and providing instant analysis in addition to the capabilities of the standard Morphologi G3, the Morphologi G3-ID can perform a Raman chemical analysis of a sample. It provides an easy non-destructive method for archaeologists to discriminate samples accurately both on morphologically and chemically at the same time. Thus Geoarchaeology can get benefit from the application of new or emerging state of art analytical instruments to interpret past social and socio-environmental behaviour of the people.