Pergamon Quaternary International, Vols 51/52, pp. 195-201, 1998. © 1998 Published by INQUA/Elsevier Science Ltd All rights reserved. Printed in Great Britain. PII: S1040-6182(97)00045-1 1040-6182/98/$19.00 PALEOPEDOLOGICAL STUDIES OF THE AGE AND PROPERTIES OF ILLUVIAL BANDS AT AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE Zbigniew Prusinkiewicz,* Renata Bednarek,* Aleksander Kogkot and Marzena Szmytt *Department of Soil Science, Nicholas Copernicus University, Toruh, Poland t Department of Prehistory of Poland, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznah, Poland The age and properties of illuvial bands in sandy soils were determined using archaeological and radiocarbon methods at a neolithic archaeological site at Opatowice (Kujawy, central Poland). The results indicate that the formation of illuvial bands started not earlier than the beginning of the Subboreal period (4800-4700 BP). These bands cannot be treated as relics from the end of the Vistulian (Wisconsinan) glaciation as is suggested by some authors. The paleopedological analyses show that the illuvial bands were formed by pedogenic processes (a peculiar kind of lessivage). © 1998 Published by INQUA/Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. INTRODUCTION Illuvial bands, also called pseudofibres, lamellas, laminae, clay-iron bands or covarvany, have been of interest to pedologists, geomorphologists and other specialists conducting studies in the surface layers of the lithosphere for a long time. These bands are the series of several-millimeter thick, horizontal, lightly un- dulated zones which differ from the matrix by their distinct reddish or rusty brown colour. They often bifurcate and rejoin. They are mostly found in automor- phic sandy soils although similar formations are found in other soils. Laszlo who, according to Stefanovits (1971), was the first to describe these bands in 1913 thought that they indicate conditions unfavourable to plants. In contrast Uggla and Uggla (1979) and Hannah and Zahner (1970) emphasized their positive influence on forests. Some specialists, e.g. Stefanovits (1971) think that they are of great diagnostic impor- tance, and propose that soils with illuvial bands be a separate taxonomic unit. In spite of the fact that these bands are found in soils rather frequently and although they have already ana- lyzed and described many times, their rates of forma- tion are poorly known. Our list of references include selected papers that represent the range of interest in features called illuvial bands, subsoil lameilas and laminae. This paper presents data for characterization of illuvial bands and determination of their age on the basis of archaeological and paleopedological studies conducted in Kujawy (Cuiavia) by the Department of Prehistory of Poland of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznafi, and by the Department of Soil Science of Nicholas Copernicus University in Torufi. THE STUDY AREA Studies were conducted on Prokopiak's Hill at Opatowice, Poland, located 3km SE of Radziej6w (2 = 18°31'E; (p = 52°36'N) (Fig. 1). Prokopiak's Hill is a kame 2200 m long, 900 m wide and has a local relief of 25 m. The hill consists of fine and medium sands with an admixture of gravel and stones. In places the sands are stratified and eolian features are common. The water table is below 10m. 195 METHODS Pedological methods. Samples for laboratory ana- lyses were taken from two profiles (A and B). Profile A exposed an archaeological pit and the undisturbed material under the pit. Profile B exposed the undistur- bed soil near the pit (Fig. 2). The pits were described and soil colors were keyed to the Munsell Soil Color Charts. The following properties were determined for the samples: particle-size composition by hydrometer method according to Bouyoucos as modified by Casa- grande and by Pr6szyfiski (sand and gravel were separ- ated on sieves); the soil reaction (pH) by glass electrode; organic carbon (C) by Tiurin method (oxidation with potassium dichromate); nitrogen (N) by Kjeldahl method; phosphorus (P) by Black method as modified by Gebhardt; and Fe oxides by Mehra-Jackson and Tamm methods. The archaeological study was con- ducted in layers of 5 or 10 cm thickness. In every layer all artefacts were precisely located. Samples were taken for further analyses from all strata. Designation for soil horizons: A -- humus horizon E -- eluvial (podzolic) horizon B -- enriched horizon C -- parent material b -- buried soil horizon es -- eluviation of sesquioxides fe -- illuvial concentration of iron, aluminum and humus p -- horizon changed by plough v- horizon enriched in iron oxides by silicate weathering