Preservation of Archaeology under Tracks - Findings and Recommendations.

Findings on Preservation Under Tracks at Barrow Clump

 The excavations at Barrow Clump, conducted under Operation Nightingale and led by Richard Osgood, provided significant insights into how military vehicle tracks can influence the preservation of archaeological remains. The site, a Bronze Age barrow reused as an Anglo-Saxon cemetery, is located on Salisbury Plain, an area heavily used for military training. The 2018 excavation season, dubbed "Exercise Beowulf," specifically highlighted the condition of remains beneath these tracks. Key findings include:

 

1. **Unexpected Preservation**: Despite the pressure from military vehicles (e.g., tanks and farm machinery), archaeological remains under the tracks were remarkably well-preserved. For instance, a female skeleton was uncovered directly beneath a vehicle track, accompanied by two small-long brooches, beads, and a knife, all intact. Similarly, a male warrior burial was found with a shield boss, spearhead, and sword, also under a track, showing minimal disturbance to the skeletal remains and artifacts.

 

2. **Compaction as a Protective Mechanism**: The weight of vehicles appeared to compact the soil above the burials, creating a hardened layer that shielded the remains from deeper degradation. This compaction limited the penetration of water, oxygen, and biological activity (e.g., plant roots or burrowing animals like badgers), which are common causes of decay in archaeological contexts. Badger setts, a significant threat at Barrow Clump, were less active directly under the tracks, further aiding preservation.

 

3. **Localized Damage**: While preservation was generally good, some superficial damage was noted. The pressure from vehicles occasionally caused minor crushing or displacement of artifacts and bones near the surface. However, this was not extensive enough to destroy the integrity of the burials, which remained identifiable and rich in contextual information.

 

4. **Contrast with Untracked Areas**: In areas not subjected to vehicle traffic, badger activity and natural erosion had caused more significant disturbance. The tracked zones, by contrast, acted as a stabilizing cap, protecting deeper deposits from these threats.

 

These findings were detailed in the 2018 Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and Wessex Archaeology monograph, as well as in Richard Osgood’s *Broken Pots, Mending Lives* (2023), which notes the "surprisingly good preservation" under tracks as a counterintuitive outcome of military activity.

 

### Extrapolation and Recommendations for Managing Similar Tracks

 

Based on the Barrow Clump evidence, the preservation of archaeological remains under vehicle tracks suggests a complex interplay between human activity and site conservation. This can inform management strategies for similar contexts—military training grounds, agricultural lands, or other areas with vehicle traffic overlaying potential archaeological sites. Here’s a recommendation framework:

 

1. **Assessment and Mapping**:

   - **Action**: Conduct geophysical surveys (e.g., ground-penetrating radar or magnetometry) and targeted test excavations to identify archaeological remains beneath existing tracks.

   - **Rationale**: The Barrow Clump findings indicate that tracks may unknowingly cap significant sites. Mapping these areas prevents inadvertent destruction during unrelated land use changes and identifies zones warranting protection.

 

2. **Maintain Controlled Traffic**:

   - **Action**: Where tracks already exist over archaeological deposits, maintain current vehicle use patterns rather than abandoning or rerouting them, provided the traffic remains consistent and does not intensify.

   - **Rationale**: The compaction effect at Barrow Clump suggests that stable, ongoing pressure can preserve remains by limiting environmental exposure. Sudden cessation of traffic might destabilize this balance, exposing sites to erosion or bioturbation (e.g., badgers), while increased traffic could risk deeper damage.

 

3. **Monitor Load and Frequency**:

   - **Action**: Regulate the weight and frequency of vehicles using the tracks, avoiding heavy machinery beyond what the soil and remains can withstand.

   - **Rationale**: While Barrow Clump showed resilience under military vehicles, excessive loads could fracture bones or artifacts, as seen in minor surface damage. Establishing load thresholds (e.g., based on soil type and burial depth) ensures preservation without compromising site integrity.

 

4. **Protective Layering**:

   - **Action**: In areas with known but unexcavated remains under tracks, consider adding a controlled layer of soil or gravel before resuming traffic, if feasible.

   - **Rationale**: Enhancing the compacted layer could mimic Barrow Clump’s protective cap, distributing vehicle weight more evenly and reducing localized pressure points, especially for shallow deposits.

 

5. **Mitigation for New Tracks**:

   - **Action**: For proposed tracks in archaeologically sensitive areas, undertake pre-construction excavations or reroute to avoid direct impact. If avoidance isn’t possible, install a geotextile barrier beneath the track to cushion remains.

   - **Rationale**: Barrow Clump’s preservation was a fortunate outcome, not a predictable one. Proactive measures can replicate this effect intentionally, preventing damage during initial track establishment when remains are most vulnerable.

 

6. **Long-Term Monitoring**:

   - **Action**: Periodically reassess tracked areas using non-invasive methods (e.g., drone surveys for surface changes or soil sampling for degradation markers) and intervene if preservation conditions deteriorate.

   - **Rationale**: Environmental shifts (e.g., climate change altering soil moisture) or increased bioturbation could undermine the protective effect over time, necessitating adaptive management.

 

### Practical Example

For tracks in the Stonehenge and Avebury WHS the Council could designate "archaeological track zones" where vehicle use continues under strict guidelines (e.g., light vehicles only, regular maintenance to prevent ruts and no subsoil disturbance). If expansion or change is needed, preemptive excavation or protective layering could safeguard unstudied remains, balancing operational needs with heritage conservation.

 

This approach leverages the Barrow Clump anomaly—where human activity inadvertently preserved history—as a model for intentional stewardship, turning a potential threat into a tool for protection and should be applied to the Byways in the WHS.