Ove Bergersen
Senior Research Scientist
Attachments
CVBiography
Ph D – (Dr. Scient) 1990 “Molecular Genetics” The Norwegian college of Veterinary Medicine,
Environmental microbiology, aerobic and anaerobic processes, biogas, landfill, contaminated land, composting process, odour and odour treatment.
Soil chemistry in preservation conditions for urban deposits in Medieval cities, assessment from an archaeological, biological and geochemical point of view. Environmental monitoring of land field and composting plants: Treatment of leakage water, odour and composting process.
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Abstract
This concluding report contains all the monitoring data collected in the course of five years, from Jan. 2013 to Aug. 2017 from the protected archaeological deposits at Øvregaten 19, Bergen. The deposits had high contents of organic material and high water content before monitoring started. Data showed minimum temperatures close to 0-2°C under winter conditions and Maximum temperatures at 14°C during the first year of monitoring 2013. In 2014 the minimum temperature increased to 6-7°C and the maximum temperature increased to 17-18°C. Data recorded in 2015 showed minimum temperature 7-9°C and maximum temperature at 16-19°C. The average and median values calculated in the last two years 2016 & 2017 were increased to 22°C in the upper part of the pit and stable at 14°C in the deeper layers. This high temperature in the upper part of the pit, which is higher than mean ambient air temperature, may be due to the new house and the flagstones placed over and close to the pit where the monitoring equipment was installed.High soil moisture was found in all layers, and fluctuated with precipitation. This increased more frequently in 2014 and 2015 under periods with high precipitation. This high precipitation frequency and the infiltration of roof water has decreased the redox potential to more anoxic conditions, which is positive for the preservation of the archaeological remains.
Authors
Ove BergersenAbstract
This report contains all the monitoring data collected in the course of three years, from 2013 to May 2016. The deposits had high contents of organic material and high water content before monitoring started. Data showed minimum temperatures close to 0-2°C under winter conditions and maximum temperatures at 14°C during the period from May to September in 2013. In 2014 the minimum temperature increased to 6-7°C and the maximum temperature increased to 17-18°C. Data recorded in 2015 showed minimum temperature 7-9°C and maximum temperature at 16-19°C. The average and median values calculated in 2013 were about 11°C, 13°C in 2014 and 14°C in 2015. High soil moisture was found in all layers, and fluctuated with precipitation. This increased more frequently in 2014 and 2015 under periods with high precipitation. This high precipitation frequency the last two years and infiltration of roof water has decreased the redox potential to more anoxic conditions, which is positive for the preservation of the archaeological remains. The previous status report II, written in 2015, informs that the redox sensor was malfunction because of the great curve drop in 2014 for sensors in layer 2 and 3. In 2015, the redox sensors all show more stable conditions of -400, -311 to -11 mV in layers 2, 3 and 4.
Abstract
This paper presents archaeological observations and results of palaeoecological and geochemical analyses of archaeological deposits from two rural sites in northernmost Norway. These are combined with climate data and the first period of continuous monitoring of soil temperature, moisture and redox potential in sections. This data constitutes the basic research material for evaluations of conservation state and preservation conditions. The data has been collected in collaboration between the partners of a cross disciplinary project. This is an important Norwegian research initiative on monitoring of rural archaeological deposits and the results have consequences for heritage management of a large number of sites from all periods. Palaeoecological analyses and redox measurements have revealed ongoing decay that might not otherwise have been detected. Decay studies indicate that both site types may be at risk with the predicted climate change. Some mitigating acts are suggested.