Soil colour spectra of prehistoric pit fillings as a new analytical tool to measure changing soil characteristics over time on a regional scale
Final Report Abstract
The measurement of soil colour spectra, or VIS-spectra, could be used as a rapid analytical tool in geoarchaeological and paleoenvironmental research. Colours of soils and sediments are indicators for the properties of soils, if quantitatively assessed and calibrated against ground-truth measurements. To calibrate and test the method, a variety of sample sets was used: archaeological soils and sediments, paleosoils, sediments and loess sequences from different regions, loess-derived topsoils, and cave sediments. Main focus was the application of methods based on the interpretation of spectral information, as using PLSR to build predictive models, or the use of colour indices (Munsell, L*a*b*, and secondary indices like Redness Rating). Heterogeneous sample sets delivered weaker correlations, and especially carbonate contents constrained the correlations. Problematic was the analysis of archaeological soils, most likely due to the decomposed state of organic matter. In most cases, it was possible to predict specific soil compounds (CaCO3, black carbon Corg, Fe) using PLRS-based models, and methods to evaluate spectral data (first derivates of spectra, continuum removal) were successfully applied to discriminate between iron oxides. Colour indices supported cognition and description of separate sediment layers or changes in soil characteristics. The analysis of colour spectra is therefore a useful method especially when large sample sets are available.
Publications
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(2012): Characterization of Archaeological Soils and Sediments Using VIS Spectroscopy. In: W. Bebermeier, R. Hebenstreit, E. Kaiser & J. Krause (eds.), Landscape Archaeology. Proceedings of the International Conference Held in Berlin, 6th – 8th June 2012. eTopoi. Journal for Ancient Studies: 285–290
Eckmeier, E. & Gerlach, R.
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(2013): Black carbon contributes to organic matter in young soils in the Morteratsch proglacial area (Switzerland). Biogeosciences 10: 1265-1274
Eckmeier, E., Mavris, C., Krebs, R., Pichler, B. & Egli, M.
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(2013): Mapping the distribution of weathered Pleistocene wadi deposits in Southern Jordan using ASTER, SPOT-5 data and laboratory spectroscopic analysis. Catena 107: 57-70
Löhrer, R., Bertrams, M., Eckmeier, E., Protze, J. & Lehmkuhl, F.
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(2014): Introducing an improved multi-proxy approach for paleoenvironmental reconstruction of loess–paleosol archives applied on the Late Pleistocene Nussloch sequence (SW Germany). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 410: 300-315
Gocke, M., Hambach, U., Eckmeier, E., Schwark, L., Zöller, L., Fuchs, M., Löscher, M. & Wiesenberg, G.L.B.
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(2014): Quaternary paleosols and sediments on the Balearic Islands as indicators of climate changes. Catena 112: 112-124
Wagner, S., Eckmeier, E., Skowronek, A. & Günster, N.
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(2014): Sediment sequence and site formation processes at the Arbreda Cave, NE Iberian Peninsula, and implications on human occupation and climate change during the Last Glacial. Climate of the Past 10: 1673-1692
Kehl, M., Eckmeier, E., Franz, S.O., Lehmkuhl, F., Soler, J., Soler, N., Reicherter, K. & Weniger, G.- C.
