Humans have been manipulating the natural cycles of a number of bioessential elements so that these elements have come to be enriched or relocated. The element phosphorus, which in nature exists in the form of oxide phosphate, is one of the elements that tend to accumulate where people live, settle and work. By analysing phosphate content of soils, one can locate settlements, identify land use, function of areas in houses, graves or other activity areas, etc. It is also possible to analyse the effects of a farmyard manuring agriculture using a technique where different fractions of phosphate in the soil are analysed bound and related to organic and inorganic forms.
