VSF 2010 Report - Nabo

SOIL MICROMORPHOLOGY ASSESSMENT OF FLOOR DEPOSITS IN THREE
VIKING AGE OUTBUILDINGS
Kyle Munro and Karen Milek
University of Aberdeen
Introduction
Undisturbed block samples for the micromorphological analysis of soils and sediments in
thin section have been collected from numerous floor deposits, midden layers, and
homefield soils at Vatnsfjörður in order to help determine their composition, origins, mode
and agent of formation, and post-depositional alteration. At the Viking Age part of the site,
seven samples from three outbuildings, Structures 3, 4 and 5, were analysed as a
dissertation project by the first author of this report, and the results of this study are
presented here (Figure 1). Micromorphological analysis of soil thin sections is particularly
beneficial for the study of floor sediments because it permits the identification and
quantification of the structure, texture, porosity, mineralogy and organic content of very
thin archaeological sediments that cannot always be excavated or sampled separately in the
field. In addition, it allows the quantification of inclusions such as bones, shells, artifacts,
coprolites, phytoliths, diatoms, ash, pollen, charcoal and plant remains, and permits these
to be seen in their original position, making it clear to the analyst the degree to which they
have been disturbed by post-depositional processes such as bioturbation. Features that are
the product of pedological or sedimentary processes observable in thin section can also
provide information on ancient environmental conditions.
Structure 3
Area 6
Structure 5
Area 2
Structure 6
Structure 4
N
0 10 20 m
Figure 1. Plan of Areas 2 and 6, on the Viking Age part of the site, showing the structures
discussed in this report (brown lines are turf walls, grey features are flat stones, and black
features are post holes).
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