Identifying buried byzantine-early Islamic agricultural soils in the Yavne Hinterlands, Israel: a multi-proxy approach

Ancient agricultural soils contain geochemical and physical indicators of past cultural practices, often reflecting nutrient accumulation due to agricultural activities. Studying soil chemistry can therefore help identify ancient agrarian sites, yet few studies examine the elemental composition of soils tied to historical agriculture. This study uses potential proxies for identifying and mapping ancient agricultural activities within buried soil in Tel Yavne hinterlands, Israel. Employing a multidisciplinary approach—including sedimentology, portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), total organic carbon (TOC) content (%C) and its isotopic composition (δ¹³C values), portable luminescence measurement (pOSL), and high-resolution Digital Elevation Model (DEM) analysis—this study analyzed soil profiles in the vicinity of Tel Yavne. Profiles revealed interbedded clay and quartz sand layers, capped by a sandy Anthrosol containing Byzantine/Early Islamic artifacts. The Anthrosol exhibited high levels of phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and silica, comparable to modern fertilized soils, indicating nutrient enrichment from biomass ash and organic waste. These findings map an 18-dunam (1.8 ha) agricultural area, underscoring the value of integrated geochemical and sedimentological methods for reconstructing ancient land use.