Environmental proxy data from the Chap archaeological site (Kyrgyzstan)

Sediment particle size, magnetic susceptibility, loss-on-ignition (LOI) and pollen data from the Chap archaeological site (described in Motuzaite Matuzeviciute et al. 2019, 2021, 2022).

Particle size analysis using Malvern Mastersizer 2000 after treatment with HCl and H2O2.

Particle size end members (EM 1 & 2) modelled using Analysize package (Paterson & Heslop 2015) for Matlab.

Dimensionless magnetic susceptibility (Κ) readings were taken using a Bartington MS2B at low (0.46 kHz) and high (4.6 kHz) frequencies. Mass magnetic susceptibility (χ) was calculated by dividing Κ by sample bulk density. The percentage of frequency dependent components (χ­­fd%) was calculated as 100[(χlf – χhf)/χlf].

For LOI calculations, samples were weighed, fired at 550 degrees C for 4 hours, re-weighed then fired at 950 degrees C for 4 hours. 

Pollen was extracted following heavy liquid methods described in Leipe et al. (2019).

Units in dataset:

Centimetre (cm)

Relative abundance (%)

Absolute abundance (#)

Sorting (σg) – after Folk & Ward (1957)

Mass magnetic susceptibility (SI/g)