Diatoms as bioindicators of site use: locating turf structures from the Viking Age
a b s t r a c t Diatoms recovered from archaeological features on a Viking Age farmstead excavation in the Mosfell Valley in southwestern Iceland are utilized as microscopic indicators of turf-based structures. Eroded turf can be difficult to distinguish macroscopically from naturally occurring sedi...
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ftciteseerx:oai:CiteSeerX.psu:10.1.1.1038.2369 2023-05-15T16:47:57+02:00 Diatoms as bioindicators of site use: locating turf structures from the Viking Age Rhonda R Bathurst Davide Zori Jesse Byock The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives 2010 application/pdf http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.1038.2369 http://www.viking.ucla.edu/zori/bathurst_zori_byock_%202010_diatoms_as_bioindicators.pdf en eng http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.1038.2369 http://www.viking.ucla.edu/zori/bathurst_zori_byock_%202010_diatoms_as_bioindicators.pdf Metadata may be used without restrictions as long as the oai identifier remains attached to it. http://www.viking.ucla.edu/zori/bathurst_zori_byock_%202010_diatoms_as_bioindicators.pdf text 2010 ftciteseerx 2020-03-08T01:18:35Z a b s t r a c t Diatoms recovered from archaeological features on a Viking Age farmstead excavation in the Mosfell Valley in southwestern Iceland are utilized as microscopic indicators of turf-based structures. Eroded turf can be difficult to distinguish macroscopically from naturally occurring sediments because turf foundations erode and melt into the landscape over time, leaving minimal evidence of site use. Turf was a principle building component in Iceland until the early 20th century. Turf strips and blocks were harvested from lowlands where organically rich peat and abundant water contributed to the development of bog plants with thick root mats that produced premium turf. Diatoms embedded in turf reflect the ecological conditions of the peat-bog at the time of deposition. Turf was cut from the bog and transported to higher elevations where drainage was more conducive to house construction. Siliceous diatom frustules are resistant to decay and preserve well archaeologically. The presence of diatoms in archaeological sediments is considered a marker of sediment provenience and an indication of human site use and anthropogenic modification of natural substrates. This paper demonstrates how diatom analysis can determine the presence and delimitation of archaeological features otherwise difficult to distinguish with the naked eye. Text Iceland Unknown |
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English |
description |
a b s t r a c t Diatoms recovered from archaeological features on a Viking Age farmstead excavation in the Mosfell Valley in southwestern Iceland are utilized as microscopic indicators of turf-based structures. Eroded turf can be difficult to distinguish macroscopically from naturally occurring sediments because turf foundations erode and melt into the landscape over time, leaving minimal evidence of site use. Turf was a principle building component in Iceland until the early 20th century. Turf strips and blocks were harvested from lowlands where organically rich peat and abundant water contributed to the development of bog plants with thick root mats that produced premium turf. Diatoms embedded in turf reflect the ecological conditions of the peat-bog at the time of deposition. Turf was cut from the bog and transported to higher elevations where drainage was more conducive to house construction. Siliceous diatom frustules are resistant to decay and preserve well archaeologically. The presence of diatoms in archaeological sediments is considered a marker of sediment provenience and an indication of human site use and anthropogenic modification of natural substrates. This paper demonstrates how diatom analysis can determine the presence and delimitation of archaeological features otherwise difficult to distinguish with the naked eye. |
author2 |
The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives |
format |
Text |
author |
Rhonda R Bathurst Davide Zori Jesse Byock |
spellingShingle |
Rhonda R Bathurst Davide Zori Jesse Byock Diatoms as bioindicators of site use: locating turf structures from the Viking Age |
author_facet |
Rhonda R Bathurst Davide Zori Jesse Byock |
author_sort |
Rhonda R Bathurst |
title |
Diatoms as bioindicators of site use: locating turf structures from the Viking Age |
title_short |
Diatoms as bioindicators of site use: locating turf structures from the Viking Age |
title_full |
Diatoms as bioindicators of site use: locating turf structures from the Viking Age |
title_fullStr |
Diatoms as bioindicators of site use: locating turf structures from the Viking Age |
title_full_unstemmed |
Diatoms as bioindicators of site use: locating turf structures from the Viking Age |
title_sort |
diatoms as bioindicators of site use: locating turf structures from the viking age |
publishDate |
2010 |
url |
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.1038.2369 http://www.viking.ucla.edu/zori/bathurst_zori_byock_%202010_diatoms_as_bioindicators.pdf |
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Iceland |
genre_facet |
Iceland |
op_source |
http://www.viking.ucla.edu/zori/bathurst_zori_byock_%202010_diatoms_as_bioindicators.pdf |
op_relation |
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.1038.2369 http://www.viking.ucla.edu/zori/bathurst_zori_byock_%202010_diatoms_as_bioindicators.pdf |
op_rights |
Metadata may be used without restrictions as long as the oai identifier remains attached to it. |
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1766038055267860480 |