Geoarchaeology in the Absence of Layers: Large-Scale Sampling From an Iron Age Urban Context in the Southern Levant

Abstract

Understanding the impact of erosion and postdepositional processes is essential for reconstructing site formation in ancient tells. At Tel(1) Burna, a multiperiod stratified site in the Shephelah region of central Israel, we integrate portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF), portable optically stimulated luminescence (pOSL), and organic residue analysis (ORA). Our aim is to assess how postdepositional processes shaped the archaeological record in Tel Burna, Israel. The results demonstrate that elemental patterns-particularly phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), and potassium (K)-can reveal occupation surfaces and destruction layers not visible macroscopically. High Ca corresponds to chalk-based floors, elevated K to degraded mudbrick architecture, and enriched P to domestic activity or burning. A fire-related destruction horizon in Stratum IV is suggested by the presence of high P in the decomposed mudbrick destruction layer, elevated K in both this layer and the underlying intact mudbrick, low Ca, strong luminescence signals, and the near absence of lipids, suggesting thermal alteration of architectural materials. pOSL photon counts increase with depth and provide strong support for the stratigraphic integrity of the profile. Spatial variability, including the absence of Stratum III in downslope areas, highlights differential preservation across the site. Comparative data from regional soils reinforce the interpretation that carbonate-rich, alkaline soils tend to retain P but allow greater K mobility. The study highlights how the integration of pXRF, pOSL, and biomolecular analysis can improve stratigraphic resolution in complex or eroded contexts, offering a rapid, non-destructive toolkit for rescue archaeology and for identifying buried destruction events and mudbrick constructions in the southern Levant.