Heterogeneous environments might be considered inadequate for geoarchaeological soil phosphorus (P) prospections due to the manifold potential alterations of archaeologically relevant soil P contents. To elucidate if this assumption is correct, we conducted a case study in the heterogeneous environment of the Iron Age Altenburg hillfort near Niedenstein (Hesse, Germany). We introduce the least influenced area (LIA) approach to deduce the native soil P contents of the local soils inductively from own soil P data. The native P contents are crucial for further data evaluation in any P prospection. Moreover, we develop two parameters to quantify and compare soil P enrichment in pedogenically heterogeneous areas: the mean enrichment ratio (MER) and the maximum enrichment ratio (XER). Finally, we modify and discuss the approach of Lorch (The Science of Nature 28(40/41):633–640, 1940) to interpret spatial patterns of soil P enrichment with regard to prehistoric land use. Our study shows that soil P prospections can be conducted in heterogeneous environments. Still, they require a systematic field work strategy and soil scientific support. Moreover, instead of absolute soil P contents, alternative parameters must be derived from the data to evaluate soil P enrichment adequately for a heterogeneous area. Using such alternative parameters on the basis of our data, the Iron Age Altenburg hillfort was significantly larger than formerly assumed. Only the Altenburg plateau and the directly adjacent slopes seem to have been densely covered with buildings. The neighboring areas might have been used for different purposes including agriculture, livestock grazing, and economic activities.

由于考古相关土壤P含量的潜在变化，可能认为非均质环境不足以满足地质考古土壤磷（P）的前景。为了阐明此假设是否正确，我们在Niedenstein（德国黑森）附近的Iron Age Altenburg山堡的异质环境中进行了案例研究。我们引入最小影响区（LIA）方法，从自身的土壤P数据中归纳推断出当地土壤中的天然土壤P含量。原始P含量对于任何P矿床中的进一步数据评估至关重要。此外，我们开发了两个参数来量化和比较不同土壤成因地区的土壤P富集度：平均富集率（MER）和最大富集率（XER）。最后，我们修改并讨论了Lorch（自然科学）的方法。28（40/41）：633–640，1940）解释了史前土地利用过程中土壤P富集的空间格局。我们的研究表明，可以在异质环境中进行土壤P勘探。尽管如此，他们仍需要系统的野外工作策略和土壤科学支持。此外，除了绝对的土壤P含量外，还必须从数据中得出替代参数，以充分评估非均质地区的土壤P富集。根据我们的数据使用这些替代参数，铁器时代的阿尔腾堡山岗要比以前假定的要大得多。只有阿腾堡高原和直接相邻的山坡似乎被建筑物密集地覆盖。邻近地区可能被用于不同目的，包括农业，畜牧业和经济活动。