Identification of the ancient anthropogenic Catena by deciphering hidden physical and chemical markers through pOSL and pXRF analysis

Soils and sediments are valuable historical archives that enable the investigation of ancient anthropogenic and natural processes. This study demonstrates that not all human activity markers are visible. Nevertheless, a combination of physical and chemical methods, including portable optically stimulated luminescence (pOSL) and portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) analyses, can provide insights into hidden human signatures. Cores drilled near the archaeological site of Tel Burna, a tell in the Judean foothills of Israel, revealed an anthropogenic layer buried within the adjacent valley. This layer also contained an anomaly indicative of anthropogenic activity, which could either signify the remnants of an ancient field's surface or mark the site's abandonment, followed by rapid erosion. Given that these cores extended from the footslope to the valley, sediment properties were tracked from the top of the site to the valley below. The findings demonstrated that anthropogenic influence diminished with distance from the site, resulting in increasingly intricate patterns, suggesting multiple sources of sedimentation, both natural and anthropogenic. The current research enabled a comprehensive analysis of an anthropogenic catena, shedding light on the impact of past human activity extending from the site to its surroundings. Furthermore, the study revealed a cycle of deposits transported to the site from the adjacent valley through human transport material (HTM) activities, which were subsequently eroded back into the valley through the natural transport of human material (NTHM). Thus, Tel Burna contributed to landscape cycling processes both during its occupation and after abandonment.