A4 Refereed article in a conference publication
Geoarchaeology, bedrock surveys, and geochemical analysis. Tracing the provenance of Medieval building stones.
Authors: Kinnunen Jussi, Seppänen Liisa
Editors: Kristiina Mannermaa, Mikael A. Manninen, Petro Pesonen & Liisa Seppänen
Conference name: Nordic Conference on the Application of Scientific Methods in Archaeology
Publisher: Archaeological Society of Finland
Publishing place: Helsinki
Publication year: 2019
Book title : Helsinki Harvest: Proceedings of the 11th Nordic Conference on the Application of Scientific Methods in Archaeology
Journal acronym: MASF
Article number: 6
Volume: 7
First page : 115
Last page: 148
eISBN: 978-9-52-684535-7
eISSN: 1799-862X
Web address : http://www.sarks.fi/masf/masf_7/masf_7.html
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/40284358
This study started from the premise that information about the provenance of building materials
increases the understanding of construction activities and utilization of environment in the past. In
this study, we analyzed 163 building stones from twelve medieval cellars in Turku (Finland) with a
portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (pXRF) and compared the results with surveys and analysis
of the local bedrock. According to the study, the majority of stones were quarried near the construction
site. The only exceptions were limestones, which are not of local origin and could have been imported
from the Baltic area or collected as glacial boulders on rocky beaches in the surroundings of Turku.
Another major result is that stones of different kinds and from different areas were used in the same
buildings and rooms. This indicates non-systematic quarrying, reuse of stones and challenges related
to the acquisition of material despite the availability of local rocks.
Downloadable publication This is an electronic reprint of the original article. |  |
