ST. GILES HOSPITAL, BROUGH ST. GILES, N. YORKSHIRE: SOIL CHARACTERISTICS AND EARLY HUMAN ACTIVITY
Author(s): M McHugh
The extent and nature of pre-Medieval human activities on-site were investigated using the macro/morphological and selected chemical characteristics of some buried soils. The earliest evidence for human activity on-site was found at the interface between the relatively undisturbed terrace deposits of the River Swale and the overlying clayey colluvium within which the hospital structures lie. The morphological evidence suggests human activity in situ including burning, possibly clearance or even occupation, though phosphorus data indicate that disturbances were either short-lived or periodic. Radiocarbon dating suggests a late Neolithic/early Bronze Age timescale, while soil characteristics suggests the presence of a stable and relatively undisturbed landscape prior to this period. The onset of colluviation suggests a radical change in local landuse, possibly involving the clearance and/or cultivation of higher ground directly south, while charcoal debris within the colluvium suggests continued activities in adjacent areas. The presence of a clearly anthropogenic soil interleaved within the colluvium indicates that at least some areas of the site were occupied during this period, though phosphorus levels indicate that activities were never prolonged or intensive. Radiocarbon dating suggests an Iron Age timescale. Comparison of pre- and post-Iron Age colluviation rates indicate a much more stable landscape during historic times.
- Report Number:
- 60/1993
- Series:
- AML Reports (New Series)
- Pages:
- 22
- Keywords:
- Soil/Sediment
