The contents of S, Ca and P were used as a proxy for anthropogenic
influence. The lacquer-peels provided consistent and reliable geochemical readings with the hand-held
XRF. Observed correspondence between pedological predictions, archaeological hypotheses and the measured
results testifies to the suitability of hand-held XRF for palaeo-geochemical characterization. Interference from
the primarily organic fixing- and mounting-agents used was absent. Consequently, hand-held XRF analysis allows
extraction of palaeo-geochemical information fromlacquer-peel soil sections,which opens-up a newpotential
data-set for reconstructing past pollution and to geochemically re-assess geological and archaeological sites
from existent lacquer peels — adding a geochemical dimension to lacquer-peels of pedological, archaeological
and geological sites.