BALTICA17 - Klaipėdos universitetas

and metallurgy, influence the geochemical properties
of the sediments. In most cases, an increasing concentration
of particular elements (such as Cd, Pb and Zn)
can be correlated with stages of human impact and
with the changing environmental situation, such as
the moisture regime (Fe, Mn), including a rise in the
water table. This is why these proxies can be used to
determine the main phases of human economic activity.
The changes in selected elements in core BIS-3 are
presented in Fig. 14.
The deforestation of the slopes and the economic activity
of the local population favoured the delivery of
material to the bottom of the valley. This is illustrated
in further declines in loss-on-ignition values recorded
at 1.3 to 1.2 metres, 1.1 to 0.6 metres, and 0.45 to 0.3
metres depth. Changes in agricultural and economic
activities could be correlated with the variability of
the phosphorus (P) content recorded in the sediment.
Samples with a higher content of this element represent
a period of extensive use of the hill-fort and the
surroundings. Anthropogenic additions of phosphorus
to the soil come from human refuse and waste, the
products of animal husbandry in barns or pens and on
livestock paths, or intentional enrichment from soil fertiliser
(Holliday, Gartner 2007, pp.301-330). The most
interesting information about humans comes from the
analysis of trace elements such as Cd, Pb and Zn. An
increased content of these elements in the vertical profile
could be associated with economic activity during
the Roman Iron Age (2.5 to 1.6 metres) and the operation
of the settlement throughout Medieval times: there
are two peaks, corresponding to the two phases of occupation
of the site (1.5 to 0.8 metres), and the effects
of economic development in the modern era (from the
surface to a depth of 0.3 metres). The elevated iron and
manganese content (1.7 to 0.9 metres deep) could be
related to the formation of wet conditions at the base of
the hill-fort (bog ore). According to the geochemical,
lithological and sedimentological data collected (Figs.
12; 14), conclusions could be made about the existence
of a natural moat during Late Roman and Early Medieval
times in the investigated area.
Two main branches (Th, Hf, Sr, Ba, Rb, Ni, Fe, Y, Cr,
Nb, Ti, K, Al, Mg, Si, Zr, Na, and Pb, Ca, Mn, Zn,
Cu, P, Br, TIC, S, TOC) were distinguished in the dendrogram
representing the samples collected within the
ARCHAEOLOGIA BALTICA 17
III
FOOTMARKS
OF THE
EVERYDAY
LIFE OF
SOCIETIES
IN EARLY
URBAN
SETTLEMENTS
AND CITIES
Fig. 16. A percentage pollen diagram of selected taxa (after M. Stančikaitė).
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