Reconstructing Past Settlements through Soil Characterization: Vessagiriya, Sri Lanka

Abstract

Information on soil layers deposited in different archaeological contexts can be used to explore past human settlements and activities. The objectives of this study were to characterize soils in the Vessagiriya archaeological site in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka and to study the variation of soil properties within different cultural phases identified in excavations. The artifacts recovered from different strata at Vessagiriya were chronologically positioned from prehistoric to Late Historic times in Sri Lanka. Soil samples were collected from five main soil strata that suggested anthropogenic activities. Soil texture, fine and medium sand fractions, soil organic matter, soil’s total and inorganic Phosphorus (P) proportions were determined for each layer. Relative proportions of inorganic P fractions significantly varied among the soil horizons. Specifically, stratum L5 showed a remarkably different relative proportion of inorganic P fractions indicating that it has been developed under different cultural phases. Fine sand/silt and medium sand/silt ratios at the Vessagiriya site were significantly different among soil layers indicating that the development of the soil profile had been impacted by external factors often associated with human activities.

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