Assessing the Use of Soil Phosphate Analysis as an Archaeological Prospection Tool at the Ames Site (40FY7), Fayette County Tennessee

Archaeologists are increasingly integrating multiple survey techniques to reduce errors and biases in attempts to locate archaeological deposits and to gain a better understanding of people\u27s use of space. This study assesses the utility of soil phosphate analysis as an archaeological prospecting tool in western Tennessee through soil analyses at the Ames site (40FY7) in Fayette County, Tennessee. The spatial distribution of available phosphorus and percent loss on ignition are compared to mapped magnetometry data over two areas with confirmed archaeological deposits. The loss on ignition results did not visually correspond with areas of archaeological activity; however, the spatial distribution of available phosphorus corresponds with archaeological activity at Ames. Further post hoc statistical analyses indicate significant differences in phosphorus values between areas with archaeological activity and areas without archaeological activity. This study demonstrates the utility of soil phosphate analysis as a tool for locating archaeological deposits at the Ames site