Soil chemistry analysis of the Orgéres site (La Thuile, AO - Italy) as a reference for archaeological interpretation

Archaeology is the discipline that studies past human civilizations by collecting, documenting and analysing the traces left by the ancestors. The cross-contamination of different scientific fields such as geology, chemistry and physics endorsed a more accurate analysis of the archaeological sites. This work analysed samples from the archaeological site of Orgères, located near La Thuile (Valle d'Aosta) through the following methodologies: ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy), and CHNS analyser. Inside the site artefacts from the Roman era and structures from the 17th century were found. Results of four different areas were compared with samples taken outside the site. The main soil constituents were analysed through principal component analysis that allowed an in-depth study of the relationships between the samples and highlighted the variables that most influenced the observed relationships. By evaluating the data set, it has been possible to date the site and the activities that were carried out at the archaeological site.