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Design: "La bugia" [graphical network resourses]

Analysis main disciplines

Micromorphology

The soils and sediments micromorphology in Archaeology it is a basis procedure for the sedimentological investigation of archaeological sites and basins. The sedimentary process characterization in the field and his development in the laboratory through the study of undisturbed blocks of soil/sediment samples, complete the works relates with geoarchaeology of the territory and the archaeological sites. The undisturbed soil samples are impregnate with plastic resin, and subsequently are cut for obtaining thin plates of great format (13x5cm) for his observation through the petrography microscope. The systematization of the microscope observations (microfacies classification) allow put in order the sedimentological descriptions. The microfacies classification form by natural process it is an indispensable step for the elaboration of anthropic microfacies.

The characterization of the anthropic sedimentation contributes to the interpretation of the archaeological structures (firesides, unmake zones, sedimentation materials of construction…). The analyses of the natural sedimentary process contribute in the paleoenvironmental characterization (sedimentary environments) and complement the facies analyses for the paleoclimatological interpretation of the stratigraphic successions. The microfacies classification, through thin plates, it is qualitative approximations, which also allows the management of stratigraphic units and suggest quantitative analytics techniques for the microarchaeology characterization of the archaeological levels (arachaeobotany, bioarchaeology…).

Photographical series: micromorphological studies

1. 
   Thin plates with sedimentary microplates structure of organic minerals components of anthropic origin package (complex packing) in fragments aggregates, coming from an occupational soil from 50.000 years ago. The aggregates fragments indicate the postdepositional modification of a covering upon the occupational soil
2. 
   Monolith extraction of undisturbed sediment [extract from Goldberg and Mc Phail (2003). "Short Contribution: Strategies and Techniques in Collecting Micromorphology Samples". In Geoarchaeology: An International Journal, Vol. 18, No. 5, 571-578]
3. 
   Impregnate plug of a carbonaceous compact sample of a Neanderthal fireside from 50.000 years ago
4. 
   From right to left: plane process of undisturbed sediment of block or plug, resin impregnate, until obtain the thin plate for his microscope observation. There are different intermediate steps in the elaboration of the thin plate, from a provisional stick of the plug to the slide for the rectification of the plug side that is going to stick definitively; finally the sediment sample reduced a 20-30 microns remain cover by the slide cover glass (optional)
5. 
   Sedimentary components vegetables carbonized by natural process in an occupational soil from 800.000 years ago
6. 
   Thin plate for the characterization of massive fine and microplates organic minerals deposits. The massive sedimentary process characterization, like creeping, or the characterizations of microplates sedimentary structures are common in techniques and analyses proper in Sedimentary Petrography