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HERO ID
8781482
Reference Type
Journal Article
Title
The significance of aragonite in the interpretation of the microscopic archaeological record
Author(s)
Toffolo, M
Year
2021
Is Peer Reviewed?
Yes
Journal
Geoarchaeology
ISSN:
0883-6353
Volume
36
Issue
1
Page Numbers
149-169
Language
English
DOI
10.1002/gea.21816
Web of Science Id
WOS:000557152500001
URL
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/gea.21816
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Abstract
Aragonite is one of the metastable polymorphs of calcium carbonate and is commonly found at archaeological sites in the form of mollusk shells and speleothems. Other occurrences include corals, fish otoliths, seed endocarps, wood ash, and lime plaster. These materials contain microscopic embedded information of fundamental importance for the assessment of the state of preservation of the archaeological record, the reconstruction of paleoenvironments, the identification of pyrotechnological processes, and the establishment of absolute chronologies. However, this information can be used only if the aragonite found at archaeological sites preserves its pristine structure and chemistry. Aragonite is metastable at ambient conditions and tends to dissolve and recrystallize into secondary aragonite or calcite, a process that entails the loss of its original elemental and isotopic signature. Therefore, well-grounded archaeological interpretations depend on the correct identification of aragonite and the careful characterization of its basic properties. This article reviews the dissolution processes of different types of aragonite, the methods used for their identification, and the archaeological information that can be extracted. Particular emphasis is given to the discussion of key issues regarding absolute dating and postdepositional processes of archaeological sediments, and to a detailed overview of the recently observed pyrogenic aragonite.
Keywords
aragonite; dating; diagenesis; paleoenvironment; pyrotechnology; AMORPHOUS CALCIUM-CARBONATE; SITE FORMATION PROCESSES; SEA-SURFACE TEMPERATURE; EARLY HUMAN OCCUPATION; LATE BRONZE; EXPERIMENTAL MICROMORPHOLOGY; RESERVOIR CORRECTIONS; URANYL INCORPORATION; METEORIC DIAGENESIS; THERMAL-TREATMENT
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IRIS
•
Uranium Toxicological Review
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Date limited literature search 2011-2021
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