SUBTERRANEAN SILOS AT VRABLE, SOUTHWESTERN SLOVAKIA. A CASE STUDY OF GEOCHEMISTRY AND DISTRIBUTION OF FINDS IN FILL DEPOSITS

The purpose of this study is to assess the potential of detailed sampling and the correlation of proxies to explain the origin and formation of secondary deposits in subterranean storage facilities. For that we studied the stratigraphy, soil chemistry and the distribution of artefacts, animal bones and microscopic remains in the backfills of two bell-shaped storage pits from the Early Bronze Age (ca. 2000–1600 BC) site Fidvár near Vráble in southwestern Slovakia. The data indicate a number of correlations between the archaeological, biological and geochemical proxies. The soil chemistry and the microscopic remains indicate a complex history of formation. Phosphorus content varies throughout the pit and correlates with the distribution of plant remains, showing differences in the origin of deposits in the separate parts of the features. Mineralized Chenopodiaceae and burned plant material, in particular, correlate with high phosphorus content, probably due to the presence of animal dung in parts of the pit fills. In contrast, there is no clear correlation between the distribution of archaeological finds and other proxies, suggesting that the exclusive reliance on artefacts as indicators for the origin of pit deposits might be problematic. The study demonstrates that the integration of proxies can provide better insights into the taphonomic history of subterranean features and can be related to particular human activities in their vicinity. For regions and periods where pits are the major or only archaeological feature at prehistoric sites, such detailed analyses can provide valuable insights into the economic, social and ritual practices of former societies.