Assessing the ploughzone: The impact of cultivation on artefact survival and the cost/benefits of topsoil stripping prior to excavation. (February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Noble, Gordon; Lamont, Peter; Masson-Maclean, Edouard
• Is Part Of: Journal of archaeological science. Volume 23(2019)
• Page Start: 549
• Page End: 558
• Publication Date: 2019-02
• Subjects: Ploughsoil -- Cultivation -- Truncation -- Artefact preservation -- Strip-and-map excavation -- Destruction of archaeological sites; Archaeology -- Periodicals; Archaeology -- Research -- Periodicals; 930.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2018.11.015
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-409X

Abstract

Abstract: Thousands of archaeological sites in Europe lie under the ploughzone. Previous studies and experiments have highlighted the impact that arable agriculture has on the preservation of archaeological sites, yet the ploughzone has also been shown in some cases to preserve important information. In this study, the value of the ploughzone was assessed through metal detecting and through sieving of the ploughsoil directly over one of the most productive areas for artefacts at an important early medieval site in Scotland. The purpose of the assessment was to gauge the extent to which removing the topsoil may lead to the loss of important information and to evaluate the extent to which strip-and-map approaches to excavation might contribute to information loss. It is the largest such experiment of its kind in Scotland and the experiment allowed an assessment of the type and condition of artefacts found in excavation compared to that in the ploughsoil. The study showed very few artefacts survived in the topsoil at this site with certain artefact types entirely absent. The study also showed the significant impact that even light ploughing has had on categories of objects such as metalworking moulds. The conclusions are that while cropmarks remain a diminishing resource, strip-and-map allows rapid assessment of these sites and where artefact densities are low this approach is unlikely to lead to loss of significant information. Graphical abstract: Unlabelled Image Highlights: A detailed assessment of the costs/benefits of the strip-and-map excavation Strip-and-map approach to excavation cost effective with minimal information loss Ploughzone above rich artefact bearing feature shown to preserve very few artefacts Some artefact categories completely absent after ploughing Ploughing has had serious effects on metalworking assemblage at major early medieval site.