Geochemical analysis in the area of a medieval Cistercian manorial farm

A multi-element and multivariate geochemical analysis has been carried out at a medieval farm site and village settlement, which belonged to the Cistercian monastery of Plasy (in W Bohemia). The results of our geochemical survey have been evaluated in context of the LiDAR survey covering the same area and the available historic maps (Habsburg Military surveys), which helped to locate relict landscape features and land-use changes. Approximately 300 samples were taken in a grid point pattern within the courtyard of the farm, as well as randomly, in the surrounding areas, in order to identify geochemical signals related to the observable surface phenomena. We have applied different analytical techniques, including PCA, log-transformation and isometrical log-transformation, and through spatial interpolation (IDW) it was possible to link  signals of both anthropogenic and geogenic character to archaeological, cultural and land-use phenomena. The results illuminated more intensive anthropogenic impact in connection to the courtyard area, and the intravillain area of the village, and additionally helped to locate different land-use activities in the  surrounding area (agricultural and possibly industrial). In that regard, this methodology was successfully applied to trace anthropogenic impact beyond narrowly defined archaeological sites. This abstract has been reformulated on the basis of our recently published paper (Horák et al 2023).

Horák, J., Janovský, M.P., Klír, T., Malina, O., Ferenczi, L., 2023. Multivariate analysis reveals spatial variability of soil geochemical signals in the area of a medieval manorial farm. Catena 220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2022.106726

This abstract is part of the research project: “Monastic manors and the landscape impact of Cistercian estate management: A landscape archaeological and historical ecological study on Plasy Abbey“ financed by the GAČR - Czech Science Foundation, grant No. 21-25061S.