Interpreting soils: archaeology and chemical analysis in Orgères site (La Thuile,AO-Italy)

Orgères’ site (La Thuile-AO- 1665m.) is located at the beginning of the Chavannes valley, an alternative road to the Petit St. Bernard pass. The alpine context is difficult to interpret due to continuous reuse of structures from earlier periods to the uninterrupted construction, and the modest amount of archaeological material. This accomplishes several issues not only for re-proposing a precise chronology (derived through very meticulous stratigraphic excavation), but also the intended use of rooms or stratigraphic units. Some excavation areas were initially interpreted through comparison with other contexts. Thanks to ethnoarchaeology, but especially to chemical laboratory analysis gave voice to these hypotheses.