A Békés Megyei Múzeumok Közleményei 1. (Békéscsaba, 1971)

Duma György: Examination of the decomposition of organic matter on the basis of the material of the Szabadkígyós cemetery

Examination of the decomposition of organic matter on the basis of the material of the Szabadkígyós cemetery GYÖRGY DUMA The study deals with the origin of the natural phosphate content of the topsoil -and the strata near to the superficial layers as well as with the possibilities of its changes, and refers to the reasons of the increase in the phosphate content and to the archeological conclusions to be drawn therefrom. Among the final products of the decomposition of all organic matter phosphorous acid can be found which becomes fixed with the mineral components of the soil in various forms, within a comparatively short time. The concentration of the phosphate content of the soil taking place locally may, for this reason, be suitable for the demonstration of the organic matters present at the time. In this way also the examination of the phosphorous content of the soil samples taken from specific places by the horse bones of the horse interment in the Szabadkígyós cemetery shows beyond question that there, according to external estimation, a larger mass of organic matter which was destroyed without leaving a trace any longer to-day - according tio the archeological assumption horse-hide - has dissolved. 133