MICROMORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

Micromorphological analysis from undisturbed sediment samples collected during the 2016/17 archaeological campaigns of Vetricella is currently ongoing. Thin sections have been observed under a ZEISS polarizing microscope at magnifications between 1,25X and 40X, using plane-polarized light (PPL) and crossed-polarized light (XPL). In addition it has been used a reflected light (RL), primarily for the observations of opaque masses (Fig.1).

(Fig.1) Thin section of Vetricella ditch filling

 

Due to the stratigraphic complexity of the sediment, a microfacies characterization has been opted.

So far, analysis shows that the stratigraphic succession of Vetricella is mainly composed of anthropic microfacies, while natural microfacies are scant. Future micromorphological analysis will provide more detailed information between differences in anthropic and natural microfacies, as well as how they affected the archaeological record of Vetricella (Fig.2-3).

 

(Fig.2) Burnt bone fragment (example of anthropic imputs)
(Fig.3) Example of natural microfacies