A geoarchaeological soil phosphorus (P) prospection is used to identify a gate within the prehistoric rampart of the Milseburg hillfort (Hesse, Germany). This study compares the application of a P fractionation scheme and P extraction with ammonium‐oxalate. We hypothesized that oxalate‐extractable P (P‐ox) and the related degree of P saturation (DPS) could replace the more expensive and time‐consuming fractionation schemes for geoarchaeological investigations. Comparing the results, the P fractionation helped to verify the existence of another section of the prehistoric ramparts and to identify the location of a gate within it. It also helped to discover the archaeologically relevant soil depths in the investigated area. This information could not be retrieved from the P‐ox data alone. Soil P‐ox contents and DPS values are relatively unspecific with regard to prehistoric land use. However, DPS at least indicates settled versus unsettled areas. Still, the results of the P fractionation more clearly delineate Iron Age land use areas including settlement, non‐settlement, rampart, and rampart gap (probable gate). Thus, in geoarchaeological contexts, this method seems to be preferable to a singular P‐ox extraction. However, for better results, P‐ox determination could be integrated into a P fractionation scheme.

中文翻译：

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草酸盐可萃取的磷能否代替土壤磷矿中的磷分级方案？—以史前密尔瑟堡丘陵地带为例（德国）

地质考古土壤磷（P）探矿物用于确定米尔瑟堡山堡（德国黑森）的史前城墙内的大门。本研究比较了P分馏方案和草酸铵萃取P的应用。我们假设草酸盐可萃取的P（P-ox）和相关的P饱和度（DPS）可以替代用于地质考古研究的更昂贵，更耗时的分级方案。比较结果，P分馏有助于验证史前城墙另一部分的存在并确定门在其中的位置。它也有助于在研究区域内发现与考古相关的土壤深度。仅从P-ox数据中无法检索此信息。就史前土地利用而言，土壤P-ox含量和DPS值相对不确定。但是，DPS至少表示已结算区域与未结算区域。尽管如此，P分馏的结果仍更清楚地描绘了铁器时代的土地利用区域，包括定居，不定居，城墙和城墙间隙（可能的闸门）。因此，在地球考古学背景下，此方法似乎比单一的P-ox提取更为可取。但是，为了获得更好的结果，可以将P-ox测定整合到P分馏方案中。这种方法似乎比奇异的P-ox提取更好。但是，为了获得更好的结果，可以将P-ox测定整合到P分馏方案中。这种方法似乎比奇异的P-ox提取更好。但是，为了获得更好的结果，可以将P-ox测定整合到P分馏方案中。