<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The main purpose of the interdisciplinary research described in the present paper is to determine the characteristics of ground environment changes in the Main Market Square area, and to compare these with analyses of metal artefacts. The elemental composition of metal artefacts and the degree of contamination of archaeological layers make it possible to consider both as specific indicators, including being geoindicators that are helpful in establishing the chronology of layers. Metal-artefact samples come from archaeological layers originating from different parts of the Great Weigh House. Layers were sampled, both in this region and also in a neighbouring area at the entrance to Bracka Street — trench A. They were collected from an area of archaeological excavations, which were carried out in the years 2005–2010, reaching down to a depth of 4 meters. All artefacts come primarily from cultural layers and structures - probably linked to workshops in the early medieval settlement which functioned in the area of the Main Market Square in the 12th and early 13th century. However, archaeological analysis of historical material allowed us to more precisely date metal arte-facts to the turn of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, which was confirmed by analysis of the radiocarbon age of a sample from Room R of the Great Scales, from layer 109. Average concentrations (mg/kg) of Pb of 128454 and Cu of 108610 were determined in this sample to the AAS, which significantly exceeded of the most concentration values characteristic of the layers from the Great Weigh House.</abstract>

The main purpose of the interdisciplinary research described in the present paper is to determine the characteristics of ground environment changes in the Main Market Square area, and to compare these with analyses of metal artefacts. The elemental composition of metal artefacts and the degree of contamination of archaeological layers make it possible to consider both as specific indicators, including being geoindicators that are helpful in establishing the chronology of layers. Metal-artefact samples come from archaeological layers originating from different parts of the Great Weigh House. Layers were sampled, both in this region and also in a neighbouring area at the entrance to Bracka Street — trench A. They were collected from an area of archaeological excavations, which were carried out in the years 2005–2010, reaching down to a depth of 4 meters. All artefacts come primarily from cultural layers and structures - probably linked to workshops in the early medieval settlement which functioned in the area of the Main Market Square in the 12th and early 13th century. However, archaeological analysis of historical material allowed us to more precisely date metal arte-facts to the turn of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, which was confirmed by analysis of the radiocarbon age of a sample from Room R of the Great Scales, from layer 109. Average concentrations (mg/kg) of Pb of 128454 and Cu of 108610 were determined in this sample to the AAS, which significantly exceeded of the most concentration values characteristic of the layers from the Great Weigh House.

Historical metallurgical activities and environment pollution at the substratum level of the Main Market Square in Krakow

AGH University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, Aleja Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow,

AGH University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Foundry Engineering, Reymonta 23, 30-059 Kraköw,

The Layers Historical Research Centre at AGH-UST, Reymonta 23, 30-059 Kraköw,

Geochronometria

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The main purpose of the interdisciplinary research described in the present paper is to determine the characteristics of ground environment changes in the Main...

Historical metallurgical activities and environment pollution at the substratum level of the Main Market Square in Krakow

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: May 31, 2016

Page range: 59 - 73

Received: May 11, 2015

Accepted: Feb 02, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/geochr-2015-0032

Keywords
Krakow, archaeological layers, metallurgical artefacts, historical contamination, lead and copper

© 2016 M. Wardas-Lasoń and A. Garbacz-Klempka

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Historical metallurgical activities and environment pollution at the substratum level of the Main Market Square in Krakow

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: May 31, 2016

Page range: 59 - 73

Received: May 11, 2015

Accepted: Feb 02, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/geochr-2015-0032

KeywordsKrakow, archaeological layers, metallurgical artefacts, historical contamination, lead and copper

© 2016 M. Wardas-Lasoń and A. Garbacz-Klempka

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Krakow, archaeological layers, metallurgical artefacts, historical contamination, lead and copper