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

在英国和欧洲，根据英国和欧盟政府的规划政策，为了子孙后代的利益，在原地保留考古遗址（不挖掘）的政策被广泛推行。然而，最近的研究，特别是NERC资助的一个专注于星星卡尔中石器时代遗址的项目，表明这种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留在原地的骨头和木材等有机残留物的腐烂。被水淹没的遗址风险最大，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保存下来，使它们成为宝贵的文化资产。在英国，具有考古意义的浸水遗址的例子很多，包括甜径（一条穿越萨默塞特平原的史前木制轨道）和Must Farm（一个青铜时代的遗址，最近发掘了许多稀有的原木船，还有一个木轮，被挖掘机描述为“在规模和完整性方面前所未有”）20.在整个欧洲，学术界和文化管理部门都对有助于成功地就地保存的因素进行了大量研究。通过这项研究，人们已经清楚地认识到，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，目前缺乏如何进行这种评估的标准化。NERC资助的“褪色的星星”博士CASE学生开发了一些便宜，易于应用和信息丰富的测试，通过这些测试可以评估和监测有机保护。恶化的水平，然后合并与地球化学数据，允许网站地球化学对有机保护的影响，以确定本提案的目的是使这些测试被更广泛的考古界利用，以评估其他水浸网站的保护潜力（并认识到快速退化）。该奖学金成功的关键是与历史悠久的英格兰密切合作，他们目前提供现场保护指导，以及考古现场单位，他们进行开发商资助的评估和挖掘。这将使从星星卡尔的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），以便在发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个决策工具，不仅纳入从过去和正在进行的研究项目中融合的新知识和现有知识，而且还纳入考古工作者的丰富知识。该系统将指导用户评估遗址的考古意义、可能的环境和地球化学风险，并评估目前的有机保护水平。然后，这些数据将转化为关于如何最好地进行现场管理的现实建议，无论是在有或没有监测计划的情况下就地保护，进行进一步调查，还是进行“救援挖掘”。评估还可用于建议挖掘后应集中注意力的地方;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。这一工具的可用性直接解决了一个公认的需要，即采取措施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，供后代学习和享受。

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.