A Note on the Chemical Analysis of a Soil Buried Since Roman Times

Summary The chemical composition of a soil buried beneath a Roman amphitheatre was compared with soil from the surrounding field and with the materials from which the amphitheatre was constructed. The calcium carbonate and total potassium contents of the buried soil and the cultivated surface soil were similar. The buried soil contained 0·78 per cent. carbon, 0·126 per cent. nitrogen, and 0·044 per cent. organic phosphorus and the surface soil 2·42 per cent. carbon, 0·318 per cent. nitrogen, and 0·097 per cent. organic phosphorus. Much more phosphorus, soluble in 0·5 M sodium bicarbonate, was present in the buried soil (12·8 mg. P/100 g.) than in the surface soil (1·3 mg. P/100 g.). Losses of nitrogen since the soil was buried in Roman times were estimated to be about 70 per cent.