Soil mark studies near Winchester,Hampshire

The fate of artifacts incorporated into the ploughsoil as a result of plough damage is considered in terms of two soil mark sites near Winchester, Hampshire. Ploughsoil and subsoil analyses indicate that dispersal of soil material, as a result of ploughing, is limited at the present time and under mould board ploughing techniques. The origin of soil marks underlain only by bedrock is also considered and evidence indicates that such soil marks may appear as groundsurface expressions of ditches which have been removed by plough damage where dispersal of ploughsoil is minimal. Such soil marks may be only short lived if plough depth continues to increase.