Large Scale Geochemical Signatures Enable to Determine Landscape Use in the Deserted Medieval Villages

fundamental question we ask is whether large-scale mapping of soil horizons can be used to interpret
former medieval activities. A portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (pXRF) was used to map the
content of elements in soils over an area of 104.4 ha at the deserted medieval village of Hol, Czech
Republic. Our methods were used to define differences in the geochemical composition of the soil
in different parts of the village’s residential and field area (as a quantitative part of the research).
Additionally we tried to interpret the results in terms of the variability of the natural environment
and the medieval village (i.e. a more qualitative interpretational part of the research). Results of
XRF spectrometry showed notable differences in element soil composition in different parts of the
village. The presence of very low soil P content is probably caused by ineffective manuring practices
in combination with the short duration of the agricultural cultivation. Nevertheless, soil P content
helped us to interpret an area of gardens in homesteads IX, X and XI, where the presence of wooden
constructions for agricultural purposes is presumed. Agricultural management at the deserted medieval
village Hol was connected with organic waste and ash from homesteads (P, Sr, Zn, probably Mn). The
spatial distribution of the soil content of elements and PCA allows us to claim that we can differentiate
the functional parts of the village based on geochemical methods. At the site of the village we
documented deteriorated natural conditions (pedological): for example, the underground water level
and eluvial horizons. These conditions could have already been affecting the medieval village Hol. The
deserted medieval village Hol does not differ from other deserted medieval villages, where a similar
low agricultural fertility is assumed (for example, Kří).