The spatial analysis of site phos-phate data

Although initially concerned with the recording of surface features and collection of surface artefacts, field survey has now grown to encompass techniques such as aerial photography, soil resistivity, magnetometry, soil magnetic susceptibility and soil phosphate analysis. Our attention is focussed on the last, soil phosphate, but in combination with results using other methods. Arrhenius 1938 has summarised work in Sweden to show that enhanced soil phosphate content is often coincident with sites of known archaeological activity. It is decomposition of organic matter in the soil which causes enhanced phosphate; as such, evidence of its presence can complement the information obtained