Elemental analysis of archaeological materials by neutron activation has previously made little use of the techniques which employ the short-lived isotopes produced on irradiation. The benefit to analysts, faced with large numbers of samples, in applying these techniques is that experimental time per individual sample is greatly reduced for the elements considered. The techniques currently employed by this group for the analysis of radionuclides with half-lives as short as 0.5s are described. The detection of trace elements is possible by modifying the irradiating neutron flux using a cadmium shield which suppresses gross activities from bulk elements present in the sample. By way of illustration, these techniques have been applied to the analysis of soils from a site near Hadrian's Wall. Twenty-three elements were detected using combined irradiation and counting periods of approximately 20 minutes, and their minimum detectable concentrations in the soil matrix determined. Results obtained for the variation in concentration of these elements with depth through two profiles, each containing a buried soil surface, are reported.