The Use of Micromorphology for the Study of the Formation and Properties of Amazonian Dark Earths

Conclusion

Inasmuch as Amazonian Dark Earths (ADE) are anthrosols formed in the past, they are part of the archaeological record and hence merit the attention of geoarchaeology. Moreover, to soil scientists the phenomenon of ADE serves as a model for the sustainable agricultural use of otherwise nutrient-poor acid soils in the humid tropics. SMA is one of many techniques that can be used to study ADE. It relies on high-resolution recursive sampling strategies, as well as on actualistic and experimental observations, to postulate ‘signatures’ of deposit-specific characteristics, human practices and soil properties. Geoarchaeological SMA mimics pedological and geomorphological approaches in description, but differs in the scale of the causal agencies postulated (interpretation).

Identification, description, and interpretation of ADE impinge on archaeological questions of site formation and past land use practices. Such investigations are essential to establish a framework for discussion and interpretation of human agencies in past rainforest landscapes, as well as to address issues of equifinality that are common to the historical sciences. Geoarchaeological approaches to SMA offer a unique perspective on matrix constituents, their arrangement, and disposition—one that cannot be approached with standard archaeological excavation techniques. Important lessons about past soil management can be drawn from such studies. Through the production of thin sections for SMA, a record of stratigraphy can be generated and preserved for future generations.