I would second Kerri's recommendation - I have used U Del for twenty years for straight ag assessments and have never been disappointed - the data arrives as an Excel spreadsheet so it is easy to pull into Surfer and such packages.
I haven't used the archaeological special analyses but the U Del folks are great to work with.
Silas
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kerri Barile" <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Tuesday, May 10, 2016 5:37:23 PM
Subject: Re: Soil Analysis
Hey Jodi,
I'm not sure how many samples you have or if they are too heavy to mail, but the University of Delaware has established a special archaeological sample category for processing soil from archaeological sites. It is $10/sample. You order their sample bags online and pay the $10 at that time. They will mail you the bags in a few days. Then you just ship your samples to them once you've collected them with a log, and they will email you the results.
Numerous firms have used UD for the exact type of analysis that you are describing (which is why they developed a special archaeological category!), and the results were terrific and fast. In fact, Dovetail and DelDOT used them to analyze soils from a smokehouse on a late-18th/early-19th century site in New Castle County, Delaware. We're happy to provide you with that data if it would help in a comparative analysis for you. Just let me know!
Here is a link to their types of tests. Click on A. Basic Soil Sample Packages for more info. The archaeological suite of studies is towards the bottom: http://ag.udel.edu/dstp/feeschedule.html
Good luck!
Kerri Barile
Dovetail Cultural Resource Group
________________________________________
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of David T. Parkhill <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 10, 2016 5:18 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Soil Analysis
Send your samples to your area county agent. Use sterile tools and bags only for your samples. A small fee is require.
D. Parkhill.
On Tuesday, May 10, 2016 3:57 PM, Timothy Scarlett <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Hi Jodi-
Please do report back to the list what you try and how it works!
In the past, I’ve worked with students to do this type of survey ourselves using basic garden testing gear that allowed us to test pH, phosphorous, nitrogen, and calcium (as I remember). The garden tester kits are good and very simple, but they give very coarse results (compare the color to a chart) that leaves you with poor resolution.
I used a testing kit like those by LaMotte you can buy at Forestry Suppliers:
http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/search.asp?stext=soil%20test<http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/search.asp?stext=soil%20test>
The ones I see on Amazon, like this one, should not be trusted.
http://www.amazon.com/Luster-Leaf-1601-Rapitest-Soil/dp/B0000DI845/ref=zg_bs_tab_pd_mw_2<http://www.amazon.com/Luster-Leaf-1601-Rapitest-Soil/dp/B0000DI845/ref=zg_bs_tab_pd_mw_2>
are generally not reviewed very well:
http://www.houselogic.com/by-room/yard-patio/soil-testing/<http://www.houselogic.com/by-room/yard-patio/soil-testing/>
Two years ago, I worked with another student to use pXRF to try and improve that, trying to map metals in soil. The results were good and much more refined, but the also report elements and not molecular results- so you would get nitrogen, but not nitrate/nitrite.
I’d love to hear what you figure out!
Cheers,
Tim
> On May 10, 2016, at 2:15 PM, Jodi <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> Hello HISTARCHers,
>
> Does anyone have a suggestion on where I could send soil samples for
> analysis. I was going to send samples from a smokehouse to Control
> Laboratories for pH, nitrates and/or nitrites, and calcium, but they don't
> seem to be able to process archaeological samples currently. Any
> suggestions would be appreciated. Please reply off list.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jodi Barnes
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