OPEN:Fading Star - Shining light: Integrating an evidence-based decision support system for in situ preservation of waterlogged archaeological remains

根据英国和欧盟政府的规划政策，在整个英国和欧洲，为了子孙后代的利益，保护考古遗址（不被挖掘）的政策被广泛推行。然而，最近的研究，特别是nerc资助的一个专注于Star Carr中石器时代遗址的项目，表明这一政策并不总是可取的。在某些情况下，不断变化的环境条件可能会加速原地留下的骨骼和木材等有机遗骸的腐烂。受水浸的地点面临的风险最大，因为它们更容易受到环境变化的影响；然而，这些遗址也含有丰富的有机物质，这些物质在其他遗址中没有得到保存，使它们成为宝贵的文化资产。在英国，具有重要考古意义的浸水遗址的例子很多，包括Sweet Track（一条穿越萨默塞特水平的史前木制轨道）和Must Farm（一个青铜时代的遗址，最近发现了许多罕见的原木船，以及一个木轮，挖掘者称其“在大小和完整性方面都是前所未有的”）。在整个欧洲，学术和文化管理部门都开展了大量关于促成成功的原地保存的因素的研究。通过这项研究，我们清楚地认识到，在决定如何管理考古遗址之前，应该对遗址的潜在环境风险和有机文物的保存状况进行全面评估。然而，目前在如何进行这种评估方面缺乏标准化。nerc资助的“衰落之星”博士案例研究项目开发了一些廉价、易于应用和信息丰富的测试方法，通过这些测试可以评估和监测有机保存。然后将退化程度与地球化学数据结合起来，从而确定遗址地球化学对有机保存的影响。本建议的目的是使更广泛的考古界能够利用这些测试来评估其他涝渍遗址的保存潜力（并认识到迅速退化）。该奖学金成功的关键是与历史英格兰和考古实地单位密切合作，前者目前为遗址保护提供指导，后者承担开发商资助的评估和发掘工作。这将使从Star Carr研究中获得的知识能够成功地转化为直接从事考古发掘工作的人（从考古专业人员到志愿者），以便在挖掘期间和之后都能考虑到所有相关信息。该项目的主要成果将是开发一种决策工具，该工具不仅结合了过去和正在进行的研究项目中合并的新知识和现有知识，而且还结合了考古从业者的丰富知识。该系统将指导用户对遗址的考古意义、可能的环境和地球化学风险进行评估，并评估当前的有机保存水平。然后，这些数据将被转化为关于如何最好地进行遗址管理的现实建议，无论是在有或没有监测方案的情况下保留在原地，进行进一步的调查，还是进行“救援挖掘”。评估亦可用于建议发掘后应注意的地方；例如，哪些文物需要立即保护，以防止进一步腐烂和考古信息的丢失。这个工具的可用性直接解决了一个公认的需要，即标准化所采取的步骤，以成功地保护考古遗址免受不断变化的环境条件的影响，从而保护我们宝贵的考古资产，供后代研究和享受。

Across the UK and Europe, a policy of preserving an archaeological site in situ (leaving it unexcavated) for the benefit of future generations is widely pursued, according with UK and EU government planning policy. However, recent research, notably a NERC-funded project focused on the Mesolithic site of Star Carr, indicates that this policy is not always advisable. In some cases, changing environmental conditions may accelerate the decay of organic remains such as bone and wood left in situ. Waterlogged sites are most at risk, as they are more susceptible to environmental change; however, these are also the sites that contain an abundance of organic materials, which aren't preserved at other sites, making them valuable cultural assets. In the UK, examples of archaeologically significant waterlogged sites are abundant, and include Sweet Track (a prehistoric wooden trackway across the Somerset levels) and Must Farm (a Bronze Age site where recently numerous rare log boats have been excavated, and a wooden wheel, described by the excavators "unprecedented in terms of size and completeness").A wealth of research into the factors contributing to successful in situ preservation has been carried out in both academic and cultural management sectors throughout Europe. Through this research it has become clear that a comprehensive assessment of potential environmental risks to a site, and the state of preservation of organic artefacts should be carried out prior to deciding how an archaeological site should be managed. However, there is currently a lack of standardisation of how this assessment is conducted. The NERC-funded "Fading Star" PhD CASE studentship developed a number of cheap, easily applicable and informative tests by which organic preservation could be assessed and monitored. Levels of deterioration were then consolidated with geochemical data, allowing the effects of site geochemistry on organic preservation to be determined The aim of this proposal is to enable those tests to be utilised by the wider archaeological community to assess the preservation potential (and recognise rapid degradation) of other waterlogged sites. Key to the success of this fellowship is working closely with Historic England, who currently provide guidance on preservation in situ, and archaeological field units, who undertake developer-funded assessments and excavations. This will allow the knowledge gained from the study at Star Carr to be successfully translated to people who work directly with archaeological excavations (ranging from archaeological professionals to volunteers), so that all relevant information can be taken into account both during and after excavations. The principal outcome of the project will be the development of a decision-making tool that not only incorporates new and existing knowledge amalgamated from past and ongoing research projects, but also the wealth of knowledge from archaeological practitioners. This system will guide the user to make an assessment of the archaeological significance, possible environmental and geochemical risks to a site, and assess the current levels of organic preservation. This data will then be translated into realistic advice on how best to proceed with management of the site, whether it be to preserve in situ with or without a monitoring programme, conduct further investigations, or to proceed with a 'rescue excavation'. The assessment can also be used to recommend where attention should be focused post excavation; for example which artefacts need immediate conservation to prevent further decay and loss of archaeological information. The availability of this tool directly addresses a recognised need to standardise the steps taken to successfully safeguard archaeological sites against changing environmental conditions, resulting in the preservation of our precious archaeological assets for future generations to both study and enjoy.