A100422 Garcia

Boletín de la Sociedad Geológica Mexicana / 74 (3) / A100422/ 2022 / 1
Use of sediments and soils (paleosols) in construction fills of the La Joya

archaeological site, Veracruz, Mexico: micromorphological evidence
Uso de sedimentos y suelos (paleosuelos) en rellenos de construcción del sitio arqueológico La Joya,
ABSTRACT
Veracruz, México: evidencias micromorfológicas
Thania A. García-Zeferino1, Annick Daneels2, Jaime Díaz-Ortega3, Elizabeth Solleiro-Rebolledo3,*
1
Posgrado en Ciencias de la Tierra, Instituto ABSTRACT RESUMEN
de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma
de México, 04510, CDMX, Mexico.
In this paper, we study the materials used for En este trabajo, se estudiaron los materiales usados
the construction of earthen structure in the para la construcción de una estructura de tierra en el
2
Instituto de Investigaciones Antropológicas, La Joya archaeological site, on the Gulf of
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, sitio arqueológico de La Joya, en la costa del Golfo de
Mexico coast, built on top of a paleodune, México, construida del Preclásico tardío (400 AC)
04510, CDMX, Mexico. from the Late Preclassic (400 BC) to the Classic
period (AD 100-1000). The first constructions al periodo Clásico (100-1000 DC). Las primeras
3
Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional arise around 100 BC, on a paleodune top construcciones se levantaron alrededor del 100 AC,
Autónoma de México, 04510, CDMX, Mex- rising slightly above the surrounding alluvial sobre la cima de una paleoduna, ligeramente arriba
ico. terraces of the Jamapa river; then it grows into de las terrazas aluviales circundantes del río Jamapa;
a 15-ha monumental compound. The total entonces, el sitio crece hasta adquirir un complejo
* Corresponding author: (E. Solleiro-Rebolledo) construction volume reaches 250,000 m3, all monumental de 15 ha. La construcción total alcanza
solleiro@geologia.unam.mx made of earth, surrounded by large artificial un volumen de 250,000 m3, toda hecha de tierra,
water pounds (reservoirs). To understand the rodeada de grandes pozas artificiales de agua (aljibes).
kind of components found in the structures Para entender el tipo de componentes encontrados en
and their provenance, we compare the micro-
morphological features of the materials from las estructuras y su procedencia, se comparó la micro-
the earthen constructions with the sediments morfología de los materiales de las construcciones de
and paleosols located in the surrounding areas. tierra con los sedimentos y paleosuelos localizados en
Samples were taken from the fills of three first los alrededores. Se tomaron muestras de rellenos de tres
building stages, as well as from a natural soil etapas constructivas, así como de un perfil natural de
profile and the natural paleosol horizons found suelos y de los horizontes de paleosuelos encontrados
beneath the structures. Micromorphological debajo de las estructuras. Las características micro-
features found in fills permit to establish the morfológicas encontradas en los rellenos permiten
Micromorphology of construction fills and soils in La Joya Mexico

correlation between them and their parent establecer la correlación entre ellos. Los rellenos de la
material. The fills from the first stage of
construction have fragments of a Btb hori- primera etapa constructiva tienen fragmentos de un
zon, mixed with an A horizon, compacted horizonte Btb, mezclado con un horizonte A, compac-
and crushed, in which abundant artifacts are tado y molido, en donde se identifican abundantes arte-
How to cite this article:
identified. However, these artifacts were not factos. Sin embargo, estos artefactos no se incorporaron
García-Zeferino, T.A., Daneels, A., Díaz-
intentionally incorporated to the fills, but had intencionalmente a los rellenos, sino que habían sido
Ortega, J., Solleiro-Rebolledo, E., 2022, been accumulated on the pre-occupation A acumulados en el horizonte A pre-ocupación, como
Use of sediments and soils (paleosols) in horizon as residential and agriculture trash. basura residencial y agrícola. Particular atención fue
construction fills of the La Joya archaeological Particular attention was paid to a gley material puesta al material gléyco presente en los rellenos de
site, Veracruz, Mexico: micromorphological occurring in the third building stage, that was la tercera etapa constructiva que se piensa vienen de
believed to come from the sediments accumu-
evidence: Boletín de la Sociedad Geológica lated in the original borrow pits transformed los sedimentos acumulados en depresiones, transfor-
Mexicana, 74 (3), A100422. http://dx.doi. into water reservoirs, enclosing the main madas en reservorios de agua, limitando el complejo
org/10.18268/BSGM2022v74n3a100422 architectural compound. These reservoir fills arquitectónico principal. Estos rellenos del reservorio
share properties of the natural sediments and comparten propiedades con los sedimentos naturales
paleosols but transformed by the waterlogging y los paleosuelos transformados por las condiciones
conditions. In consequence, these materials de saturación de agua. En consecuencia, estos mate-
Manuscript received: November 30, 2021. are interpreted as a case of anthropogenic riales son intempretados como un caso de pedogénesis
Corrected manuscript received: February 22, 2022. pedogenesis, where the gley micromorphol- antropogénica, en donde la micromorfología del gley
Manuscript accepted: April 5, 2022. ogy indicates waterlogging conditions, but in indica condiciones de saturación de agua, pero a causa
artificially made reservoirs, as they do not have
dark organic sediments that would result of de un cuerpo de agua artificial, ya que no muestran
the vegetation typical of a natural pond in a sedimentos orgánicos oscuros que resultarían de la
Peer Reviewing under the responsibility of vegetación típica de un estanque, bajo un ambiente
humid tropical environment.
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. tropical húmedo.
Keywords: Gulf of Mexico coast, earthen
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-SA architecture, gley material, paleodune Palabras clave: costa del Golfo de México,
license(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) sediments, water reservoir. arquitectura de tierra, material gléyco,
sedimentos de paleoduna, aljibe.
http://dx.doi.org/10.18268/BSGM2022v74n3a100422
2 / Boletín de la Sociedad Geológica Mexicana / 74 (3) / A100422/

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MATERIALS AND METHODS
INTRODUCTION/
1. Introduction mid (Pérez et al., 2016) and adobes from Sabina

Grande and Zethé archeological sites (Gama-Cas-
The identification of the materials used in tro et al., 2012). The fills of the Moon pyramid
earthen structures (fills) has attracted the atten- were also studied by micromorphology, finding
tion of scholars to provide information about the use of natural and agricultural soils to form
their natural sources, their natural and anthropic the core of the ancient buildings (Rivera-Uria et
modifications during the different stages of con- al., 2007). According to Barba (1995), the amount
struction (Courty et al., 1989) as well as about of extracted material from the surrounding soils
the paleoenvironment and the human impact to accounts for 5 km2.
the landscape (Butzer, 1982). Different method- The large-scale earthworks at La Joya located
ologies have been applied in such identification in the coastal lowlands in the humid tropical envi-
as the physicochemical characterization of soils, ronment of the Gulf of Mexico started 2000 years
sediments, and fills (Liberotti and Daneels, 2012; ago (Daneels and Guerrero-Baca, 2011). The
Itkin et al., 2018; Bezada et al., 2020); geochem- archaeological studies reveal that during the first
istry of soils and sediments to detect activity stages of construction, the superficial soil horizons
areas (Sulas et al., 2019; Williams et al., 2021), to were used, mixed with abundant human refuse,
reconstruct historic soil contamination (Wilson et result of a 1000-year occupation of the site prior
al., 2005), or to trace anthropogenic activity (Da to monumental construction (Daneels and Guer-
Costa and Kern, 1999). In recent years, micro- rero-Baca, 2011). The following stages appear to
morphological studies have demonstrated their be made from sediments dug from borrow pits
value to discriminate between natural factors and cutting through alluvial terraces and paleodunes.
human influence on the materials (Courty et al., Archaeological evidence suggests these reservoirs
1989; Macphail and Goldberg, 2017); the cul- were usually kept flooded by a hydraulic system
tural influence on the sediments and soils (Fisher capturing the nearby river flow, but that they were
and Macphail, 1985; Courty et al., 1989; Courty, occasionally drained and dried to extract gleyic
1991; Devos et al., 2013); the sources from which sediment to use as construction fill. Particular
the earthen structures were constructed (Laporte attention is given to the gleys developed at the bot-
et al., 2015); the techniques applied for the con- tom of artificial water reservoirs and those present
struction (Khokhlova and Nagler, 2020). in the third building stage of the monumental
In Mexico, first micromorphological works architectural compound of the site of La Joya.
related to archaeological problems appear more The aim of this work is to corroborate the archae-
recently, and particularly applied to cultivated ological interpretation using micromorphological
soils (McClung et al., 2004) and for paleoenvi- analyses of samples from the fills of structures of
ronmental reconstruction (Solleiro-Rebolledo different age, from the reservoir, from the natural
et al., 2006). Though scarce, the application of paleosols buried below the structures and from the
micromorphology to study pre-Hispanic archi- paleodune sediments.
tecture has contributed to the understanding and
identification of the kind of materials used for the
construction. Nevertheless, most of these studies 2. Materials and methods
have been dedicated to stone-faced structures as
in Teotihuacan (Barba et al., 2009; Blancas et al., 2.1. GEOGRAPHIC AND GEOLOGICAL CONTEXT
2019), or in the Mixteca Alta, Oaxaca (Finsten et
al., 1996), and relate to stuccos (Straulino et al., The site is on the coastal floodplain of the Gulf of
2013). The application of micromorphology to Mexico, central Veracruz, in a subhumid tropical
the earthen structures is limited. However, there climate Aw2(w), with summer rains averaging 1500
are some works on adobes of the Cholula Pyra- mm per year (García, 1970). It is located at 4.5 m

asl (above sea level), 19.07° North latitude and Therefore, most of the coastal plains are formed
96.15° West longitude (UTM 14Q 799967.2 E, by erosion of andesitic volcanic rocks, with
2110621.6 N), 6 km inland from the coastline feldspars, plagioclases and amphiboles predom-
and close to the confluence of the Jamapa and inating (Silva-Mora, 2009; Armstrong-Altrin et
Cotaxtla rivers (Figure 1a). These two rivers al., 2015). On the other hand, the dune systems
originate about 100 km inland, to the West, on along the coast may have up to 50% quartz,
the flanks of the predominately andesitic Pico probably brought by marine currents from
de Orizaba volcano, part of the Trans-Mexican non-volcanic sectors of the Gulf Coast (Carran-
Volcanic Belt with important Late Pleistocene za-Edwards and Rosales-Hoz, 1995; Kasper-
and Holocene activity (Carrasco-Núñez, 2000). Zubillaga, 1999).
Figure 1 a) Sketch map of La Joya, with the monumental compound (based on the 1937 sketch) surrounded by reservoirs (mapped in
2004). The level curves are drawn every 2 m. Solid black areas indicate remained sectors in 2008. Arrows indicate the water circulation
pattern of the hydraulic system. Solid pentagons indicate the location of the sampling areas: natural soil in La Joya profile 1; Btb
horizon developed on a paleodune sediment; the reservoir (samples R), and the fills (RP and B samples); b) photography of the site with
a view of the North Platform; c) detail of destruction of the site by the extraction of the earth to make bricks.

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2.2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE archaeologically almost sterile loam and sand for
LA JOYA SITE fill. These material extractions are inferred due to
the presence of three large borrow pits forming
La Joya is a monumental earthen architecture site a U-shape contour around the monumental com-
in the central part of the Gulf Coast area of Meso- pound. These borrow pits were then turned into
america (Figure 1b), of the regional culture known artificial water ponds by connecting them from the
as Remojadas, spanning the Late Preclassic (400 southwest to the Jamapa river to a hydraulic system
BC) to the Classic period (AD 100-1000) (Daneels capturing the river overflow and allowing excess
and Guerrero-Baca, 2011). The first constructions water to drain to the north, back into the river
arise around 100 BC, on a paleodune, large and (Figure 1a). The purpose of these reservoirs, here
massive enough to divert the course of the Jamapa as in other sites of the region, was to restrict access
river southward. The paleodune top barely rises to the ceremonial center, forcing visitors to enter
above the surrounding alluvial terraces of the by one side only. During the third stage, between
Jamapa river. Over the centuries, the site grew AD 400 and 700, large amounts of construction
into a 15-ha monumental compound, totaling a fill were used to enlarge the buildings and specially
construction volume of 250,000 m3, all made of to raise the plaza level of the whole complex 2 m
earth, surrounded by large water pounds (Daneels above the surrounding river terrace level. These
2016) (Figure 1). The site has been systematically fills consist of grey sediments sometimes mixed
destroyed in a proportion of 95% by the extraction with sand (the latter referred to as “leopardo” in
of earth to make bricks (Figure 1c), as estimated the Daneels (2005) excavation report, due to the
from the comparison between a 1937 sketch map aspect of the sandy yellow fill spotted with dark
(Escalona, 1937) and a 2004 topographical map, clay blocks). During the fourth building stage (AD
leaving only portions of three buildings with their 700-1000), the construction fills were mainly of
profiles exposed (marked in solid black areas in the loams (some clayey, some sandy), interpreted as
Figure 1a). An archaeological project registered being of probable alluvial origin.
the artificial profiles made by the brickmakers, When the site was abandoned around AD 1000,
defining the architectural sequence of the remain- the buildings started to degrade and the ruins
ing buildings (Daneels, 2005) and their correlation were covered by tropical vegetation, exploited for
at the conserved plaza levels (Daneels, 2008). In slash-and-burn agriculture and, after the Spanish
the following years, large sectors were excavated Conquest, for cattle grazing and brick making (up
of the Pyramid and the North and East Platforms to now) (Daneels, 2005). The fills in the reservoir
to define the function of the buildings and their contain ceramics from different periods, allowing
chronology, both by ceramic association and to date the construction and use of the reservoirs:
radiocarbon dating (Daneels, 2008). This allowed The lowest levels contain Middle Classic sherds
to define that the site was built on top of a paleo- (AD 300-700), intermediate levels contain Late
dune surrounded by alluvial terraces deposited Middle Classic (AD 500-700) and Late Classic
by the Jamapa and Cotaxtla rivers, with 4 main (AD 700-1000) sherds, while the uppermost lev-
construction stages (Daneels and Guerrero-Baca, els (to 50 cm below surface) have Postclassic (AD
2011). In the first (100 BC-AD 200), the North 1000-1500) and modern material (Daneels, 2005).
Platform was made of dark brown loam, rich
in organic matter and ceramic debris of earlier 2.3. COLLECTION OF THE MATERIALS
occupation which was interpreted as topsoil gath-
ered from the site surface to form the fill of the To corroborate the archaeological interpretation
platform. During the second stage, by AD 300, the of the building sequence, we obtained 12 oriented
North Platform was enlarged, and the first stage and unaltered samples from: the fills of the North
of the Pyramid and the East Platform built, using platform (RP1 to RP3 and B3-B4 samples); the

Table 1. Archaeological samples: location, depth and building stage.
Sample Material Location Stage Depth in meters

Datum Surface
RP1 Fill North platform I -9.80 0.75
ABb Paleosol North platform Pre-I -11.20 1.80
B4 Fill North Platform I -8.25 -2.05
B3 Fill North Platform II -7.50 -1.20
B1 Fill Plaza III -9.00 -1.30
B2 Fill Plaza III -9.10 -1.40
R5 Gley East reservoir post-IV -13.05 -0.05
R4 Gley East reservoir post-IV -13.30 -0.30
R3 Gley East reservoir IV -13.73 -0.73
R2 Gley East reservoir III -14.35 -1.35
R1 Gley East reservoir I -15.00 -2.00
Btb horizon Paleosol East reservoir Pre-I -15.10 -1.20
Btb horizon Paleosol Pyramid Pre-I -8.92 -

fills of the (B1-B2 samples); the gleys found in the and Loaiza et al. (2015), was carried out at the
East reservoir (R1 to R5 samples). In addition, Institute of Geology at the National Autonomous
we collected three samples of paleosol horizons University of Mexico (UNAM). The oriented
formed from a paleodune sediment, directly samples of reservoir sediments, fills and natural
below the structures: beneath the Pyramid (Btb soil horizons were impregnated with a polyester
horizon), under the gleys (Btb horizon), and below resin diluted with 30% styrene monomer and
the fills of the North platform (ABb horizon). The placed in vacuum for 40 minutes. The solid block
location of the archaeological samples is indicated was cut and ground using in sequence 120, 240,
on figure 1a and summarized in table 1. Addition- 360, 400 and 600 grit carborundum, then fixed
ally, one natural soil profile (La Joya profile 1) was to a 5x7 cm glass slide. Finally, the section was
studied inside the site (Figure 1a), and samples cut using a Buehler Petro Thin System to 50 mm,
from every genetic horizon were taken. and further reduced to 30 micra, lapping by hand
using 600 and then 1000 grit silicon carbide and
2.4. MICROMORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS mineral oil. The sections were analyzed using
an Olympus BX51 petrographic microscope,
The micromorphological analysis, based on the connected to a Media Cybernetic Coolsnap Pro
micromorphology manuals by Fitzpatrick (1984) camera.

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3. Results building stage fill, at 8.25 m below datum (Figure

3a). The earth from the second stage building is a
RESULTS
3.1. DESCRIPTION OF THE EARTHEN STRUCTURES light brown loam, with very few sherds. Sample B3
PROFILES was taken from the fill of the platform supporting
the so-called audience hall, a building used for spe-
At the North platform (number 2 in Figure 1), the cial assembly purposes (Figure 1a), 120 to 125 cm
fills of the first construction stage were analyzed below modern surface, and 35 cm above the floor
(Figure 2). These fills (samples RP1- RP3) are of the first building stage, at -7.50 m below datum.
below 90 cm of a later construction fill and rest The samples of the third building stage come from
directly on a buried ABb horizon. The three fills the fill of the plaza area to the West of the East
are similar: they have brownish colors, a clayey Platform (labeled 3 in Figure 1a), about 350 m to
silty texture, they are compact and show a suban- the south of the pyramid (labeled 1 in Figure 1a).
gular blocky structure. Differences are observed This fill contains sand mixed with clayey blocks
in the amount of artifacts, being abundant in the of gray sediments, from which B1 and B2 sam-
upper fills (RP1 and RP2) and decreasing in the ples were taken (Figure 3b), 120 to 140 cm below
lower fill (RP3). modern surface, and 80 cm above the plaza floor
Also in the North Platform, we sampled another placed during the second building stage. Sample
building of the first and second construction stages B1 is greyish and clayey, while sample B2 is a yel-
(Figure 3a). The first building fill consists of a dark lowish sand.
sandy loam with abundant charcoal flecks, sherds, At the western edge of the East reservoir (num-
obsidian, and animal bones. Sample B4 was taken ber 5 in Figure 1a), a profile was exposed during
from this layer, at 205 to 210 cm below modern recent land works. The size of the East reservoir is
surface and 40 cm below the floor sealing the first 500x75x2 m, totaling a volume of at least 75,000
Figure 2 Fills from the first construction stage at the North platform.
m3; presently it is silted in and used as dry sea- is a thin horizontal layer of yellow gray gley, 10
son cattle pasture, holding water only during the cm thick (stratum 4- sample R2), very similar to
summer rains or major river floods. The profile the stratum 5 but with abundant iron concretions.
RESULTS
measures 2.30 m from surface to phreatic level and The stratum 3 (sample R3) is a 55 cm thick-hori-
consists of 6 strata (Figure 4). The one at the bot- zontal layer of light blue gray gley with abundant
tom is a sterile yellow sandy clay layer which corre- iron concretions dispersed in the stratum. We
sponds to a Btb horizon formed from a paleodune observe small sherds of ceramic types dating to
sediment, apparently 30 cm above the phreatic AD 700-1000 as well as daub fragments, possibly
level. Overlying the Btb horizon, a horizontal of burnt roofs. Overlying this layer, a change is
blue-gray layer, 65 cm thick, with some iron oxide clearly observed, as the 40 cm thick-stratum 2 has
concretions is observed (Sample R1). Directly on dark brown colors (sample R4). It has clayey loam
top of this stratum, there are two layers of large texture, with few sherds.
sherds, lying horizontally. The first one contains At the top of the sequence the stratum 1 (sam-
ceramic types dating to AD 100-300, and halfway ple R5) is again a layer of gray gley with large
up, while the second one has smaller sherds of iron oxide concretions, with some sherds of AD
types dating to AD 500-700. Above them, there 100-700 types mixed with modern plastic garbage.
Figure 3 Fills of: a. first and second construction stages, at the North platform; b. third construction stage, at the Plaza area.

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This layer is 30 cm thick but is only present in the structure. The 2Bt horizons (2Btb3 and 2Btgb4)
profile along the shore of the reservoir, disappear- are reddish brown. They have a loamy texture and
ing upslope. The great similarity of this stratum a subangular blocky structure. Thin clay coatings
RESULTS
with the lowest gley horizon (stratum 5) and the and Fe-Mn nodules and mottles are visible with a
field evidence of modern infrastructure work, 10X-lens. The lowermost horizons are brownish
suggest that this layer is the result of the backhoe and yellowish. They are more sandy and less struc-
digging through the profile, heaping the mixed tured. Vertical fractures are observable, which
residues on the side, and compacting them on the enter down the profile, evidencing vertic features.
surface by driving over it. This layer is absent from Ceramic fragments are also seen along the profile,
a reservoir trench dug in 2005 some 200 m to the however, they can be the result of vertical trans-
north (Figure 1a, Daneels, 2005). portation along the vertical fractures, as they are
mainly found along them, sometimes together
3.2. MORPHOLOGY OF THE NATURAL PROFILE with modern materials from the surface, or from
the activities of modern brick workers, active at
The natural profile (La Joya profile 1) is located this level of the profile.
immediately southwards from the profile where Most earthen structures rest on an archaeologi-
the B1 and B2 samples were obtained (Figure 1a) cally sterile layer which corresponds to a yellowish
and has a total depth of 3.40 m (Figure 5), however brown Btb horizon of a buried paleosol, with a
the first 1.70 m corresponds to a soil formed in a subangular blocky structure and clayey loam tex-
sediment, as part of the 2 m fill placed over the ture, presumably formed on a paleodune surface;
surface during the third building stage; it contains in some areas, as in the East and North Platforms,
abundant ceramics from the Middle and initial a humic horizon (ABb horizon), rich in archae-
Late Classic (AD 400 and 700). At 1.90 m, a poly- ological material, is found (Figure 2). It shows a
cyclic paleosol is found. It has Aib, ABib1, 2ABb2, dark brown color, a clayey loam texture and a
2Btb3, 2Btgb4, 2BCb5, 2Cb6 horizons (Figure 5). subangular blocky structure.
The Aib and ABib1 horizons are dark brown with
an angular blocky structure and a loamy texture. 3.3. MICROMORPHOLOGY OF THE FILLS IN THE
The uppermost Aib horizon is thin probably EARTH BUILDINGS
due to natural erosion or because of anthropic
remotion. The 2ABb2 horizon is reddish brown, The fills at the North Platform (RP1 to RP3, first
slightly more clayey; it has a subangular blocky construction stage), contain abundant artifacts:
Figure 4 Materials of the reservoir, showing in the bottom the Btb horizon of the natural surface.
pieces of ceramic where volcanic components coatings (Figure 7a and 7c). Sample B3 (second
are identified (Figure 6a, RP1); fragments of soils building stage) is massive (Figure 7d).
where oriented clay coatings are visible (Figure 6b, The groundmass is reddish brown, impreg-
RESULTS
RP1) as well as Fe nodules (Figure 6c, RP2). Some nated with iron oxides (Figure 7d) containing
areas present soil fragments that are crushed and reworked clay coatings. High amounts of fine
pressed, consequently they have abrupt boundar- sand are observed (Figure 7d and 7e) composed
ies with the groundmass (Figure 6c). Unweathered mainly by quartz with some content of pyroxenes,
volcanic glass particles are also found (Figure 6d, and plagioclases. There are also rounded dark
RP2). aggregates incorporated in the lighter groundmass
Sample B4, obtained from the North Platform (Figure 7d and 7e) and porous areas where char-
(first stage of construction) has a subangular blocky coal fragments are present (Figure 7f).
structure (Figure 7a) with sand grains, mainly The B1 and B2 samples come from the third
constituted by quartz, plagioclases and pyroxenes building stage fill. The B2 sample has a massive to
(Figure 7a). There are abundant anthropic arti- subangular blocky structure with abundant pores
facts, like obsidian flakes (Figure 7b), ceramics and fractures. The groundmass is sandy (Figure
and charcoal (Figure 7b) as well as reworked clay 8a) with particles averaging 0.14 mm; fine clayey
Figure 5 Natural soil profile (La Joya profile 1) showing the modern soil and the buried polycyclic paleosol.

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material exhibits a granostriated b-fabric (Figure groundmass with planar voids (Figure 9a). Some
8a). The thin section also shows the presence of areas have lighter colors, that together with the
root fragments, charcoal (Figure 8a) and soil frag- presence of Fe-Mn complex nodules (Figure 9a)
RESULTS
ments where clay coatings are clearly observed indicate redoximorphic characteristics.
(Figure 8b, c). The B1 sample is more clayey and The overlying stratum (sample R2) is more
has an angular blocky structure with planar voids clayey, with a subangular blocky structure (Figure
and fissures (Figure 8d), fragmented clay coatings 9b). Abundant planar voids and fissures, together
(Figure 8d), fine sand lenses and small sherd frag- with elongated pores are observed (Figure 9b).
ments. The average size of the sand particles is In this layer, Fe nodules are also detected. Addi-
0.12 mm in diameter. Another common feature tionally, dusty clay coatings are present, which are
is the presence of deformed and impure clay weakly oriented (Figure 9c).
coatings (Figure 8e and 8f). The samples from Sample R3, from the stratum 3, is more sandy
the reservoir have the following features: R1 sam- and poorly structured (Figure 9d). The particles
ple, at the bottom of the reservoir, has a clayey are mostly subrounded and are mainly consti-
Figure 6 Micromorphology of the fills of the first construction stage: a. ceramic fragment where volcanic materials are observed in
RP1, plane-polarized light (PPL); b. illuvial clay coatings from a soil fragment in RP1, cross polarized light (XPL); c. dark soil fragment,
crushed and compacted in RP2 (PPL); rounded Fe concretions are observed in the dark groundmass; d. volcanic glass fragment in a sand
groundmass in RP2 (PPL).
tuted by volcanic rock fragments and plagioclases. components include volcanic glass and fragments
Rounded soil aggregates, having thick clay coat- of ceramic. In contrast, the uppermost stratum,
ings, some of them fragmented, are also present sample R5, is highly compact (Figure 9g). The
RESULTS
(Figure 9e). The sample R4, located near the groundmass is composed by reddish clay with few
surface, has also a coarse texture and is less com- biogenic pores, and a high content of iron mottles
pact (Figure 9f). The sand particles are floating with diffuse limits (Figure 9g). The sand mineral
in a silty-clay groundmass (Figure 9f). The coarse particles are subrounded. Although the general
Figure 7 Micromorphology of the fills of the first and second construction stages at North platform. B4 sample: a. subangular blocky
structure (PPL); b. Obsidian flakes and charcoal (PPL); c. Re-worked, fragmented clay coatings in a sandy groundmass (XPL); B3 sample:
d. rounded fragments made up fine sand in a fine sand groundmass with dark spots of Fe-oxides (PPL); e. same as d, (XPL); f. porous
areas with charcoal and Fe oxides nodules (XPL).

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appearance is clayey and compact, there are areas ture with planar fractures (Figure 10a). The coarse
with coarser textures where fragmented clay coat- particles include rock fragments of andesite,
ings are observed (Figure 9h). plagioclase, pyroxenes, micas, and some amphi-
RESULTS
boles; their average size is 0.15 mm in diameter

(Figure 10a and 10b). Thick in situ clay coatings
3.4. MICROMORPHOLOGY OF THE NATURAL SOILS are clearly observed (Figure 10b). At the bottom
of the fills in the North Platform, the buried ABb
Micromorphology of the Btb horizon of the horizon shows fine sand and silt particles, impreg-
(decapitated) paleosol underlying all the earthen nated with organic matter (Figure 10c). The fine
constructions, shows a subangular blocky struc- particles are aligned and deformed (Figure 10c),
Figure 8 Micromorphology of the third construction stage. B2 sample: sandy groundmass with a granostriated b-fabric with charcoal
fragments (PPL); b. soil fragments with clay coatings in a sandy groundmass (XPL); B1 sample: c. compact soil fragments in a sandy
groundmass (PPL); d. compact soil aggregates with a subangular blocky structure, with clay coatings; e. compact clayey aggregates with
dirty and deformed clay coatings (PPL); f. same as e, with XPL.
RESULTS
Figure 9 Micromorphology of the reservoir. a. R1 sample clayey groundmass with planar voids and Fe-Mn complex nodules (PPL); R2
sample: b. subangular blocky structure with planar voids, fissures, and elongated pores (PPL); c. dusty clay coatings, weakly oriented
(PPL); R3 sample: d. sandy and poorly structured groundmass (PPL); e. rounded soil aggregates, having thick clay coatings (PPL); R4
sample: f. coarse texture with subangular mineral grains (PPL); g. sand particles are floating in a silty-clay groundmass (PPL). R5 sample:
h. compact and clayey groundmass, impregnated with Fe; areas with coarser textures where fragmented clay coatings are present (PPL).

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RESULTS
Figure 10 Micromorphology of the natural paleosols: a. Btb horizon under the earthen constructions, showing a subangular blocky
structure with planar fractures and fragments of andesite (PPL); b. illuvial clay coatings in the Btb horizon (XPL); c. ABb horizon showing
a dark groundmass where fine particles are aligned and deformed (PPL); d. bone and charcoal fragments in the ABb horizon (PPL);
e. angular blocky structure of the ABib1 horizon (PPL); f. two generations of in situ clay coatings of strong birefringence: one with a
reddish color and another with a yellowish color in the 2Btb3 horizon (XPL); g. two generations of clay coatings accompanied by Fe
oxides nodules and accumulations in the 2Btgb4 (PPL); h. altered sand grains with complex and single Fe nodules (PPL); i. plagioclases,
volcanic rock fragments covered by thin clay coatings (PPL).
evidencing crushing and compaction of the mate- 2Btb3, 2Btgb4, 2BCb5, 2Cb6) is characterized to
DISCUSSION
rial. In this horizon, we also observed bone and show a reddish-brown color, with a high amount
charcoal fragments (Figure 10d). of sand, but with an evident increase of clay in
The ABib1 horizon of the natural profile exca- the 2ABb2 and in the 2Btb3 and 2Btgb4 horizons
vated in the south of the main pyramid (Figure (García-Zeferino, 2020), contrasting to the domi-
5) shows a dark groundmass where angular blocks nance of sand fraction in the 2Cb6 horizon, what
are clearly defined (Figure 10e). The Bt horizons suggests the clay has been formed by pedogenesis.
in this profile (2Btb3, 2Btgb4) shows two genera- Thin sections support this suggestion as thick in
tions of undisturbed clay coatings of strong bire- situ clay coatings are observed in the Bt horizons
fringence: one with a reddish color and another of the buried paleosol (Figures 10b, 10f and 10g).
with a yellowish color (Figure 10f and 10g). In Even more, in this paleosol, different generations
the 2Btgb4, there are abundant redoximorphic of clay coatings are identified, which are related
features as single Fe nodules, complex Fe nodules to a long time of landscape stability, necessary to
(Figure 10h) and Fe coatings (Figure 10h). The firstly, form the clay from the sand (parent mate-
2Cb6 horizon shows the presence of sand grains rial from the paleodune), secondly to illuviate the
with different degrees of alteration. They consist clay along the profile. Studies of soil formation
of plagioclases, rock fragments, pyroxenes, and on dune sediments indicate a long-time span for
quartz (Figure 10i). The horizon has a granostri- the formation of Bt horizons (Phillips, 2007). The
ated b-fabric with thin clay coatings around the coatings reduce the soil porosity, producing redox-
minerals (Figure 10i). imorphic conditions (Buurman et al., 1998), which
are observed in form of Fe-Mn segregations and
concretions (Figures 10g, 10h and 10i). In con-
4. Discussion trast, the micromorphology of weakly developed
soils on sandy sediments in different parts of the
4.1. NATURAL PALEOPEDOGENESIS IN LA JOYA world show the presence of fresh single grains only
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE impregnated with organic matter or a microstruc-

ture of intergrain micro-aggregate (Hinojosa et al.,
The natural profile studied in the area contains 2015; Stoops et al., 2020). This kind of microstruc-
a set of features that can be decodified to recon- tures is seen in the 2Cb6 horizon (Figure 10i).
struct the paleopedogenesis. Although this is the In the Veracruz coast, north to La Joya, the
only complete profile we have studied, below the presence of Bt horizons has been registered,
earthen structures, a consistent buried paleosol belonging to buried paleosols formed during the
horizon has been found, whose properties can be Late Pleistocene; in contrast, the early to middle
also related to those of the natural soil profile. In Holocene paleosols develop vertic features (Sol-
general, the paleosol is archaeologically sterile, leiro-Rebolledo et al., 2021). Mid Holocene vertic
however, the surface of the La Joya profile 1 (Aib paleosols were encountered also more to the south
and ABib1 horizons) has ceramic fragments as well in the Usumacinta valley, Tabasco, also under
as AB horizons buried below some of the struc- present day humid tropical climate (Solís-Castillo
tures. Although some ceramic pieces have also et al., 2015). Therefore, we suggest the polycyclic
been observed in the lower horizons, they appear paleosol in La Joya represents these two main
to be linked to fractures. Therefore, we consider cycles of pedogenesis: the buried Bt horizons
they have been vertically transported, as biotur- under the structures as well as those observed in
bation and/or shrinkage and swelling processes the La Joya profile 1 belong to a Pleistocene pedo-
can disturb the stratigraphical context (Leigh, genetic phase, while the vertic horizons on top
1998; Driese et al., 2013). The second paleosol (Aib and ABib1 horizons) are formed in the Holo-
level identified in the La Joya profile 1 (2ABb2, cene, previously to the site’s occupation. However,

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these horizons show evidence of human use, as horizon, rich in human refuse, was extracted and
DISCUSSION
compaction (Figure 10c) and a high amount of used as fill.

artifacts as charcoal and bones mixed with the The B3 sample features differ from the Btb
natural components (Figure 10d). This observa- horizon of the paleosol. In the fill, the sand
tion is supported by the archaeological findings grains are finer (Figures 7d, 7e) with charcoal
which indicate the site was occupied for almost a fragments (Figure 7f). There are also rounded
millennium, prior the development of the earthen dark fragments of fine texture, rich in quartz
structures (Daneels and Guerrero-Baca, 2011). (Figure 7d) that are not present in the paleosol
samples. The source of this material is not clear
4.2. CORRELATION BETWEEN FILLS AND SOILS: but can be related to sediments from the neigh-
MICROMORPHOLOGICAL INDICATORS boring coastal areas of Veracruz, which contain
less amount of lithics and higher content of
When we compare the micromorphological char- quartz (Armstrong-Altrin et al., 2015).
acteristics of the RP1, RP2 and RP3 samples, The fills of the third construction stage at the
from the North Platform, representing the first plaza area have common micromorphological
building stage, there are interesting features: the features with the paleosol. Nevertheless, the B1
material found in the RP2 is like the ABb horizon sample has a coarser texture with a granostriated
of the natural soil, where dark granules are visible b-fabric (Figure 8a) land looks like the 2Cb6 hori-
(Figure 10c), but in the case of the fill, the material zon of the natural soil (Figure 10i), but the fill has
has been crushed and compacted (Figure 6c) and charcoal fragments (Figure 8a). The B2 sample is
mixed with volcanic materials, which look mostly more clayey with compact aggregates (Figure 8d)
fresh (Figure 6d) and with fragments of the Btb where clay illuvial coatings are clearly observed
horizon, identified by the presence of illuvial clay that relates this material to the Btb horizons of
coatings (Figure 6b). This kind of fill is known as the natural soil. In addition, the fill has abundant
structured fill, where sediments of different tex- material of anthropic origin: sherds, obsidian,
tures are layered in order to increase the structural and charcoal. As some features are also similar to
stability of the construction (Daneels et al., 2018). the earth of the reservoirs (presence of compact
The sample B4, also from the North Platform, has clay, impure and deformed clay coatings, planar
similar characteristics of the Btb and Btgb hori- voids and fissures Figure 9d, 9e), we suggest that
zons: it has a subangular blocky structure, like the the sediment from the reservoir was used during
one observed in the natural horizon (Figure 7a, the third construction stage; this supports the
10a,10e), reworked clay coatings (Figure 7a, 7c) as archaeological observations that some fill mate-
well as reddish areas impregnated with iron oxides rial was extracted from this area.
(Figure 7d). Although the pedofeatures found in the strata
The fill also contains sherds, obsidian, and of the reservoir share similarities with those of
charcoal, which are not associated to the Btb the natural soils, there are transformations due
horizon fragments. Therefore, it is not likely that to the permanent waterlogged conditions of
the inhabitants of the site mixed these materials the reservoir. The oldest strata (samples R1 and
intentionally with the soil. It is probable that the R2) are compact with illuvial clay pedofeatures,
artifacts were unintentionally integrated to the nat- like those observed in the buried Bt horizon,
ural soils, as residues (residential and agricultural however in the case of the reservoir, they seem
trash) of the early occupation period of the site, to be deformed (Figure 9b), not limpid and
that became integrated to the surficial A horizon weakly oriented with diffuse boundaries with the
before the start of the site’s monumental construc- groundmass (Figure 9a, 9b) that probably fit in
tions. This confirms the archaeological inference the concept of flood coatings (Singh et al., 1998;
that when the first building stage began, this A Boixadera et al., 2003). Therefore, it is probable
DISCUSSION / CONCLUSIONS
that the source for these strata is the paleosol probable sources from which the material was
affected by the water of the reservoir. The third obtained. The size and form of the particles was
stratum (sample R3) has a coarser texture. The important to evaluate the use of paleodune and
sand grains are surrounded by dusty clay mixed coastal sediments versus the sediments from the
with limpid clay fragments (Figure 9d). Its miner- alluvial terraces. Additionally, it was possible to
alogy (volcanic rock fragments and plagioclases) correlate specific features found in a natural soil
and grain size indicate this material proceeds from buried below the structures and the fills used in
the 2BCb5 and 2Cb6 horizons of the paleosol every construction stage.
(Figure 10h, 10i). In the first construction stage, the features of
The stratum 2 (sample R4) is similar to the R3, the fills coincide with those observed in the natural
but here, the material is mixed with ceramics and soil, particularly to the Btb, Btgb and Ab horizons,
volcanic glass. Particularly concerning the volcanic and even to the sands of the paleodune; while
glass, we have not seen it in the paleosol, but it can the second construction stage included material
be transported by the rivers Jamapa and Cotaxtla, from the natural soil as well as from the alluvial
proceeding from the Pico de Orizaba volcano, sediments.
which had intensive activity during the Holocene Besides these natural sources, anthropic mate-
(Carrasco-Núñez, 2000). In consequence, the rials (charcoal, bones, ceramic) were observed in
results support the previous interpretation derived the fills. Nevertheless, the archaeological evidence
from the archaeological stratigraphic reconstruc- has shown that the artifacts were not intentionally
tion, that these sediments are of fluvial origin added to these early fills. On the contrary, they
(Daneels, 2005). Additionally, the coastal sediments were integrated into the soils as residues of the
of Veracruz are rich in quartz, with some amounts first occupation period of the site. Later, the surfi-
of plagioclases and volcanic lithics (Armstrong-Al- cial organic horizon enriched with this residential
trin et al., 2015). In consequence, these sediments and agriculture trash was used for the construc-
can also be a source for the sandy material found tion. This conclusion is based in the fact the Btb
in the stratum. The uppermost material found in horizon, also employed as building material, lacks

the reservoir has similarities with those observed artifacts. On the other hand, in some fills there is
in the lower strata: compact clayey, Fe-Mn nodules evidence the material was crushed and compacted
and impregnations with fragmented clay coatings using a technique named structured fill.
(Figure 9g, 9h). However, the stratum was only The strata of the reservoir also demonstrated
locally found (not observed in a trench dug in 2005) they came from the natural soils and sediments of
and lays 2 m above the present-day phreatic level, the region probably accumulated during the con-
so that the apparent conditions for waterlogging struction and the occupation of the site. However,
are improbable. Besides these characteristics, it is the materials had been transformed by the water-
mixed with ceramic of different ages and modern logging conditions, being a case of anthropogenic
plastics (Figure 4), thus it represents a reworked pedogenesis.
material, product of recent infrastructure work. This interpretation is based on the absence of
dark, organic horizons that would be present in
case of the natural ponds (swamps) in a humid
5. Conclusions tropical environment. During the third construc-
tion stage, the inhabitants used the sediments from
This article presents a case of application of the paleodune as well as from the reservoir as they
micromorphology to corroborate the interpreta- share common features, particularly, fragments of
tion of the building sequence of an archaeological compact clay with redoximorphic characteristics
site, by comparing the construction fills with the combined with sandy sediments.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS /
Contributions of authors and geochemistry of sands from the

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Boletín de la Sociedad Geológica Mexicana / 74 (3) / A100422/ 2022 / 1

Use of sediments and soils (paleosols) in construction fills of the La Joya

Thania A. García-Zeferino1, Annick Daneels2, Jaime Díaz-Ortega3, Elizabeth Solleiro-Rebolledo3,*

Micromorphology of construction fills and soils in La Joya Mexico

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1. Introduction mid (Pérez et al., 2016) and adobes from Sabina

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MATERIALS AND METHODS

Micromorphology of construction fills and soils in La Joya Mexico

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MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sample Material Location Stage Depth in meters

RP1 Fill North platform I -9.80 0.75

RP2 Fill North platform I -10.32 1.15

RP3 Fill North platform I -10.70 1.65

ABb Paleosol North platform Pre-I -11.20 1.80

B4 Fill North Platform I -8.25 -2.05

B3 Fill North Platform II -7.50 -1.20

B1 Fill Plaza III -9.00 -1.30

B2 Fill Plaza III -9.10 -1.40

R5 Gley East reservoir post-IV -13.05 -0.05

R4 Gley East reservoir post-IV -13.30 -0.30

R3 Gley East reservoir IV -13.73 -0.73

R2 Gley East reservoir III -14.35 -1.35

R1 Gley East reservoir I -15.00 -2.00

Btb horizon Paleosol East reservoir Pre-I -15.10 -1.20

Btb horizon Paleosol Pyramid Pre-I -8.92 -

Micromorphology of construction fills and soils in La Joya Mexico

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3. Results building stage fill, at 8.25 m below datum (Figure

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Micromorphology of construction fills and soils in La Joya Mexico

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Micromorphology of construction fills and soils in La Joya Mexico

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Micromorphology of construction fills and soils in La Joya Mexico

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boles; their average size is 0.15 mm in diameter

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Micromorphology of construction fills and soils in La Joya Mexico

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compaction (Figure 10c) and a high amount of used as fill.

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Micromorphology of construction fills and soils in La Joya Mexico

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Contributions of authors and geochemistry of sands from the

Chachalacas and Veracruz beach areas,

required by the Mexican Federal Law on Archae- doi.org/10.1002/gea.21835

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International, 51-2, 66-69. http://dx.doi. earthen architecture in the tropical lowlands

Micromorphology of construction fills and soils in La Joya Mexico

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Fitzpatrick, EA., 1984, Micromorphology of soils: org/10.17746/1563-0110.2020.48.2.038-