In Situ Preservation of Wetland Heritage: Hydrological and Chemical Change in the Burial Environment of the Somerset Levels, UK

Abstract

In situ preservation is a core strategy for the conservation and management of waterlogged remains at wetland sites. Inorganic and organic remains can, however, quickly become degraded, or lost entirely, as a result of chemical or hydrological changes. Monitoring is therefore crucial in identifying baseline data for a site, the extent of spatial and or temporal variability, and in evaluating the potential impacts of these variables on current and future in situ preservation potential.

Since August 2009, monthly monitoring has taken place at the internationally important Iron Age site of Glastonbury Lake Village in the Somerset Levels, UK. A spatial, stratigraphic, and analytical approach to the analysis of sediment horizons and monitoring of groundwater chemistry, redox potential, water table depth and soil moisture (using TDR) was used to characterize the site.

Significant spatial and temporal variability has been identified, with results from water-table monitoring and some initial chemical analysis from Glastonbury presented here. It appears that during dry periods parts of this site are at risk from desiccation. Analysis of the chemical data, in addition to integrating the results from the other parameters, is ongoing, with the aim of clarifying the risk to the entire site.

Keywords:

• in situ preservation
• monitoring
• Glastonbury Lake Village
• Sweet Track
• water chemistry
• hydrology

This project is funded by the AHRC and EPSRC (Science and Heritage Programme) with support from Somerset County Council and English Heritage. We acknowledge the advice of Professor J. R. L. Allen, Dr Matthew Almond, Dr Steve Robinson, Dr Stuart Black (University of Reading), Dr Richard Brunning (Somerset County Council), Dr Sebastian Payne and Vanessa Straker (English Heritage), and Glastonbury Antiquarian Society.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Louise Jones

Louise Jones has a BSc in Environmental Geology, completed in 2006, and an MSc in Geoarchaeology, completed in 2008, both from the University of Reading. She started her PhD research in 2008, also at the University of Reading, in the Departments of Archaeology, Chemistry, and Geography and Environmental Science. Her research project is focused on monitoring the in situ preservation of wetland heritage at two sites in the Somerset Levels. This is funded by the Science and Heritage Programme (AHRC/EPSRC), with additional support from English Heritage and Somerset County Council. A paper was published outlining the initial findings of this project ().

Correspondence to: Louise Jones, Departments of Chemistry, Archaeology, and Geography and Environmental Science, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, Berkshire rg6 6ab, UK. Email: [email protected]

Martin Bell

Martin Bell is Professor of Archaeological Science and Head of the Archaeology Department in the University of Reading. He teaches Geoarchaeology and Coastal and Maritime Archaeology and his research interests include experimental archaeology. Author of a number of books, including Late Quaternary Environmental Change (2005, with M. J. C. Walker), Prehistoric Coastal Communities: The Mesolithic in Western Britain (2007), and Prehistoric Intertidal Archaeology (with A. Caseldine and H. Neumann). He is a fellow of the British Academy and the Society of Antiquaries.

Correspondence to: Martin Bell, Department of Archaeology, University of Reading, UK. Email: [email protected]