Dr. Cristiano Nicosia, Centre de Recherches en Archéologie et Patrimoine, Universitè Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium Em. Prof. Dr. Georges Stoops, Vakgroep Geologie, Universiteit Gent, Belgium

"An impressive and appealing handbook and sourcebook on the materials, problems, techniques, achievement, and prospects of the subject." Geoscientist Online

• Contributors xiiiReferees xviiAbbreviations xixIntroduction 1Georges Stoops and Cristiano NicosiaI.1 Aims and Structure of the Book 1I.2 Definition and History of Soil Micromorphology 1I.3 Micromorphology and Archaeology 2I.4 Use of Micromorphology in Geoarchaeology 2I.5 Techniques 4I.6 ConcludingRemarks 5References 5Part I: Inclusions in Archaeological Soils and Sediments 91 Bone and Other Skeletal Tissues 11Ximena S. Villagran, Dirk J. Huisman, Susan M. Mentzer, Christopher E. Miller and Miranda M. Jans1.1 Introduction 111.2 Micromorphology 111.3 Taphonomy of Bone 201.4 Guidelines for Micromorphological Analysis 32References 332 Avian Eggshell 39Matthew G. Canti2.1 Introduction 392.2 Biological Characteristics 392.3 Optical and Morphological Properties 392.4 Examples 392.5 Conclusions 39References 413 Mollusc Shell 43Matthew G. Canti3.1 Biological Characteristics 433.2 Optical and Morphological Properties 433.3 Examples 433.4 Conclusions 46References 464 Biospheroids Produced by Earthworms 47Matthew G. Canti4.1 Introduction 474.2 Morphological and Optical Characteristics 474.3 Preservation Potential 474.4 ArchaeologicalExamples 474.5 Arion Granules 49References 495 Faecal Spherulites 51Matthew G. Canti and Jacques Élie Brochier5.1 Introduction 515.2 Biological Characteristics 515.3 Optical Characteristics 515.4 Preservation Potential 535.5 ArchaeologicalExamples 53References 546 Excrements of Herbivores 55David Brönnimann, Kristin Ismail‐Meyer, Philippe Rentzel, Christine Pümpin and Lenka Lisá6.1 Introduction 556.2 Micromorphology 556.3 Taphonomy 60References 637 Excrements of Omnivores and Carnivores 67David Brönnimann, Christine Pümpin, Kristin Ismail‐Meyer, Philippe Rentzel and Natalia Égüez7.1 Introduction 677.2 Excrements of Omnivores 677.3 Excrements of Carnivores 697.4 Human Excrements 757.5 FutureResearch 77References 788 Guano 83Panagiotis Karkanas8.1 Introduction 838.2 Micromorphology 838.3 Archaeological Implications 868.4 Future Prospects 87References 879 Ova of Intestinal Parasites 91Christine Pümpin, Matthieu Le Bailly and Sandra Pichler9.1 Introduction 919.2 Characteristics of Specific Parasite Eggs 919.3 Limitations of the Study of Helminth Eggs in Micromorphological Thin Sections 949.4 Conclusion 96References 9610 Earth Construction Materials 99David E. Friesem, Julia Wattez and Marylise Onfray10.1 Introduction 9910.2 MudBricks 9910.3 Cob 10210.4 Wattle and Daub 10410.5 Conclusion 106References 10711 Laterite as Construction Material 111Georges StoopsReferences 11212 Turf as Construction Material 113Dirk J. Huisman and Karen B. Milek12.1 Introduction 11312.2 Micromorphology 114References 11813 Plant Remains 121Kristin Ismail‐Meyer13.1 Introduction 12113.2 Micromorphology 12213.3 Future Prospects 130References 13314 Chaff 137Cristiano Nicosia and Matthew G. Canti14.1 Introduction 13714.2 Micromorphology 13714.3 Conclusion 139References 13915 Charred Plant Remains 141Matthew G. CantiReferences 14216 Coal 143Matthew G. Canti16.1 Introduction 14316.2 Types of Coal (after Read 1971) 14316.3 Optical and Morphological Properties 14316.4 Alteration of Coal by Burning 14416.5 Archaeological Examples 14416.6 Conclusions 145References 14517 Plant Ash 147Natthew G. Canti and Jacques Élie Brochier17.1 Introduction 14717.2 Micromorphology 14717.3 Ash Taphonomy 152References 15318 Opal Phytoliths 155Luc Vrydaghs, Yannick Devos and Ákos Pető18.1 Introduction 15518.2 Micromorphology 15518.3 BriefReview of Previous Micromorphological Studies Reporting Phytoliths 15718.4 Deposition and Accumulation in Archaeological Units 157References 16019 Siliceous Microfossils from Single‐Celled Organisms: Diatoms and Chrysophycean Stomatocysts 165Elie Verleyen, Koen Sabbe, Wim Vyverman and Cristiano Nicosia19.1 Introduction 16519.2 Habitat Preferences of Diatoms and Chrysophycean Cysts 16519.3 Identification of Siliceous Microfossils produced by Single‐Celled Organisms 16519.4 Siliceous Microfossils from Single‐Celled Organisms in Archaeological Soil Micromorphology 168References 16820 Opal Sponge Spicules 171Luc Vrydaghs20.1 Introduction 17120.2 Micromorphology 171References 17221 Burnt Soils and Sediments 173Astrid Röpke and Carlo Dietl21.1 Introduction 17321.2 Physical,Chemical, Mineralogical and Micromorphological Changes 17321.3 Experiments at Different Temperature Regimes 17521.4 Conclusion 177References 17822 Burnt Carbonates 181Matthew G. Canti22.1 Introduction 18122.2 Thermal Diagenesis of Carbonate Materials 18122.3 Carbonate Materials from Different Temperature Regimes 18122.4 Archaeological Examples 18322.5 Conclusions 183References 18823 Calcareous Mortars, Plasters and Floors 189Georges Stoops, Matthew G. Canti and Selim Kapur23.1 Introduction 18923.2 Micromorphology 18923.3 Alteration of Mortars and Plasters 19623.4 Conclusion 197References 19724 Gypsic Mortars and Plasters 201Georges Stoops, Alexander Tsatskin and Matthew G. Canti24.1 Introduction 20124.2 Micromorphology 20124.3 Alteration 20324.4 Conclusion 203References 20425 Ceramic Materials 205Lara Maritan25.1 Introduction 20525.2 Micromorphology 20525.3 Conclusion 210References 21026 Metals and Metalworking Residues 213Ivana Angelini, Gilberto Artioli and Cristiano Nicosia26.1 Introduction 21326.2 Micromorphology 21426.3 Conclusions 220References 22127 Lithic Artefacts 223Diego E. Angelucci27.1 Introduction 22327.2 Micromorphology 22427.3 Discussion 226References 229Part II Current Topics in Archaeological Soil and Sediment Micromorphology 23128 Soils Disturbed by Vegetation Clearance and Tillage 233Judit Deák, Anne Gebhardt, Helen Lewis, Maria Raimonda Usai, and Heejin Lee28.1 Introduction 23328.2 Micromorphological Features related to Vegetation Clearance by Fire 23528.3 Micromorphological Features Indicative of Bare Surfaces 23828.4 Micromorphology of Structural and Textural Features Revealing the use of Implements 24728.5 Final Remarks 259References 25929 Animal Gathering Enclosures 265Ruth Shahack‐Gross29.1 Introduction 26529.2 Organic‐Rich Dung Deposits 26729.3 Organic‐Poor Dung Deposits 27029.4 Conclusion 275References 27930 Trampling, Poaching and the Effect of Traffic 281Philippe Rentzel, Cristiano Nicosia, Anne Gebhardt, David Brönnimann, Christine Pümpin and Kristin Ismail‐Meyer30.1 Introduction 28130.2 Trampling 28130.3 Poaching 28630.4 Traffic 28730.5 Experimentally Trampled Sediments and Surfaces 28730.6 Conclusion 293References 29531 Combustion Features 299Carolina Mallol, Susan M. Mentzer and Christopher E. Miller31.1 Introduction 29931.2 Classification of Combustion Features 30031.3 Analytical Strategy 30031.4 Common Microscopic Products of Combustion 30031.5 Stratigraphy, Fabric and Classification of Intact Combustion Structures 30131.6 Stratigraphy and Fabric of Physically Reworked Combustion Structures 31531.7 Microscopic Evidence for Chemical Diagenesis of Intact and Reworked Combustion Structures 32031.8 Synthesis 32231.9 Conclusion 324References 32632 European Dark Earth 331Cristiano Nicosia, Yannick Devos, and Richard I. Macphail32.1 Introduction 33132.2 Sampling and Analytical Procedures 33132.3 Features Associated with Natural Formation Processes 33232.4 Features Associated with Human Activities 33632.5 Concluding Remarks 339References 34033 Amazonian Dark Earths 345Manuel Arroyo‐Kalin33.1 Introduction 34533.2 Sampling Considerations 34733.3 Soil Micromorphology of ADEs 34834.4 Conclusions 352References 35434 Cave and Rock Shelter Sediments 359Carolina Mallol and Paul Goldberg34.1 Introduction 35934.2 Common Microfabrics from Rock Shelter and Cave Sites 36034.3 Conclusion 375References 377Part III Additional Techniques 38335 Sampling for Soil Micromorphology 385Georges Stoops and Cristiano Nicosia35.1 Introduction 38535.2 Sampling Strategy 38535.3 Taking Samples in the Field 38635.4 Labelling 38935.5 Transport and Preservation 390References 39136 Fluorescence Microscopy 393Georges Stoops36.1 Principles of the Analytical Method 39336.2 Sampling and Analytical Procedure 39336.3 Applications in Archaeology 39536.4 ConcludingRemarks 396References 39637 Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) 399Lisa‐Marie Shillito37.1 Principles of the Analytical Method 39937.2 Sampling and Analytical Procedure 39937.3 Archaeological Applications 401References 40138 Isotope Mass Spectrometry (On Microdrilled Powders) 403Susan M. Mentzer38.1 Principles of the Analytical Method 40338.2 Sampling and Analytical Procedure 40438.3 Archaeological Applications 40538.4 ConcludingRemarks 408References 40839 FTIR Microscopy 411Francesco Berna39.1 Principles of the Analytical Method 41139.2 Sampling and Analytical Procedure 41139.3 Archaeological Applications 412References 41440 X‐ray Microdiffraction 417Christoph Berthold and Susan M. Mentzer40.1 Fundamentals of X‐ray Diffraction 41740.2 XRD Instrumentation 41740.3 Output and Analysis 42140.4 Applications to Archaeological Micromorphology Samples 42240.5 ConcludingRemarks 427References 42741 Micro XRF 431Susan M. Mentzer41.1 Principles of the Analytical Method 43141.2 Sampling and Analytical Procedure 43241.3 Archaeological Applications 43541.4 ConcludingRemarks 438References 43842 Micro‐CT Scanning 441Dominique J.M. Ngan‐Tillard and Dirk J. Huisman42.1 Principles of the Analytical Method 44142.2 Sampling and Analytical Procedures 44242.3 Archaeological Applications 44442.4 Concluding Remarks 446References 44743 Electron Probe X‐ray Microanalysis (SEM‐EPMA) Techniques 451Clare A. Wilson43.1 Principles of the Techniques 45143.2 Sample Preparation and Analysis 45143.3 Archaeological Applications 453References 45744 Reflected Light 461Bertrand Ligouis44.1 Principles of the Analytical Method 46144.2 Sampling and Analytical Procedure 46144.3 Archaeological Applications 465References 469Index 471