Hi Eleanor,

One method that you might find useful, especially if your soil is already
red (like much of the Southeast), is soil micromorphology. By making thin
sections of in situ samples of your profile, it may be possible to identify
burned layers by the presence of particular changes in the structure of the
soil and grain morphology. In general, this is a fantastic tool to
understand site formation that is underutilized by archaeologists.  I am not
sure if there is anyone in your area who is doing micromorph.

Kate Gallagher

_____________________________
Kate Gallagher, M.A.
Archeologist/Analyst
R. Christopher Goodwin & Assoc.
241 East Fourth Street, Suite 100
Frederick, MD 21701
301-694-0428, Fax 301-695-5237

. ----- Original Message -----
From: "Eleanor Breen" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 06, 2004 3:06 PM
Subject: Examples of Fire Reddening


> Hello Histarchers: I have a question about
> heat-altered or fire-reddening of subsoil.  At a site
> where the floor level is know, in your experience,
> what is the distance between heat source (hearth,
> etc.) and the discolored soil?  In other words, how
> far above grade can the heat source/floor level be and
> still have fire reddening of the soil?  Does the
> presence of brick lining the heat source transmit heat
> better, thereby causing more extensive soil reddening?
>  We are interested in both the depth and horizontal
> extent of the heat alteration.  We are trying to
> figure out if distance between floor surface and
> heat-altered subsoil can be inferred by the extent of
> soil reddening.
>
> Thanks, Eleanor Breen
>
> Assistant Archaeologist
> Historic Mount Vernon
>
>
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