ABSTRACT
Micromorphological studies of mudbrick from Tell Lachish and of occupation deposits at other sites indicated the potential for analysis of occupational sequences at Abu Salabikh at the outset of this research in 1987. Micromorphological examinations were conducted using a Wild large-field transmitted light polarising microscope at 6.3 64, and a Nikon transmitted light polarising microscope fitted with a fluorescent blue light facility for examination at higher magnifications of 50 400, and study of the natural fluorescence of individual components. The micromorphological attributes selected for study, and the associated descriptive terminology, are those established by the International Society of Soil Science Working Group on Soil Micromorphology for use by a wide range of disciplines, which have been adapted for application to the study of archaeological deposits. By drawing a vertical line through the microstratigraphic sequence from a single building phase it is possible to quantify the proportion of each micromorphological deposit type as a percentage of the total microstratigraphic sequence.
