Posthole

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Fig 1. types of post hole

In archaeology a posthole or post-hole is a

cut feature used to hold a surface timber
or stone. They are usually much deeper
than they are wide although truncation
may not make this apparent. Although the
remains of the timber may survive most
postholes are mainly recognisable as
circular patches of darker earth when
viewed in plan. Archaeologists can use
their presence to plot the layout of former
structures as the holes may define its
corners and sides. Construction using
postholes is known as earthfast or post in
ground construction.

Parts of a posthole
Although a very common structure, and
one of the most basic found in
archaeology, correct interpretation relies
on being able to tell the often subtle
differences that distinguish the parts of
the posthole. The components of an
archaeological posthole are listed in order
of creation and, in ideal circumstances, the
reverse order of their excavation.

Posthole cut

The cut that formed the hole. It is cut from

the ground surface level at time of
construction. The sides of the hole may be
distorted by later pressure on the post (as
in the left hand example of the image), or
later disturbance. Only careful excavation
will be able to distinguish between the
original cut profile and any later distortion.

The cut needs to be distinguished from the

fill in any detailed stratigraphic analysis, in
the same way that any pit fill has to post-
date the cutting of the pit, even if by
minutes.

Dug up soil

Soil excavated from the hole, usually

sitting in a pile next to the hole ready for
backfilling. Ideal sequence will be that the
dug up soil will have material dug through
first at the bottom of the pile, with material
from deeper down on top of the pile. In
optimal situations, the location of dug up
soil can be detected adjacent to filled
postholes, especially where subsoil differs
markedly from the surface material.

Post

Normally a round or squared timber placed

in the hole. Sometimes a stone may be set
in the hole below the post to prevent the
post sinking in soft ground or sticks and
stones to keep the post properly aligned
until it is filled. Many cultures charred their
posts to slow down rate of decay in situ.
This is sometimes mistaken for burning in
situ. Posts may, in modern times, be
soaked in creosote or other decay
inhibitors or termite preventatives.

The post may survive as an element or

have decayed (a postpipe), or been
removed. Even if decayed there should be
a dark organic stain that matches the
original dimensions and extent of the post.

Posthole fill / Post packing

The dug up soil goes back in the hole once

the post is in place. Sometimes structural
needs require that the hole is also packed
with rocks or smaller sticks to keep the
post in desired position. Ideally dug out
material returns to the pit in its original
stratigraphic order but inevitably mixing
occurs so that ground layers and posthole
layers are distinguishable. Logically not all
of the contents of the hole will fit back
once the post is emplaced, so remaining
soil may be left in a pile or scattered.

Postpipe or post mould

The decayed buried section of the post

that remains in situ. Some archaeologists
prefer pipe where it is predominantly still
organic material and mould where this has
been replaced by sediment.

Post void
Where a pipe has been removed. This may
be uncovered as a cavity, although this is
rare and usually a combination of
slumping of posthole fill and inwashed
deposits fill the position of the post, which
is usually termed post mould.

Posthole

This is the generic term for all of the

archaeological evidence contained within
the cut, particularly when seen in plan
view, including any artefacts that have
been introduced during the cutting and
filling sequence.

Procedure for excavating a

posthole
To excavate a posthole a series of steps
must be taken. First, the postholes are
sprayed with water to prevent them from
drying out and to make the edges show up
more clearly. The postholes then are
measured to see where the widest point
is(about halfway through). One half of the
post hole and part of the surrounding soil
is dug out in a rectangular shape until the
bottom of the post hole is visible on the
wall of the intact half. This wall is the
profile wall of the post hole. The post hole
is then measured of its width and height
and the profile wall is drawn, with
important features like rocks or bones
being marked.

Interpretation of postholes
Postholes are different from stake holes in
that the cut is dug for the post rather than
created by the driving in of the stake. This
means there is some voided space that
has to be filled in once the post is in place.
This material is post packing and is one of
the main ways of differentiating postholes
from stake holes in plan. The shape and
structure of the contexts within a posthole
can also shed light on past activity. If a
post was purposely removed, then the
action of rocking it back and forth leaves
tell-tale evidence in the profile of the
posthole which archaeologists can
recognise. A post may have rotted in place
leaving a postpipe or still be surviving (See
the section in Fig 1). Archaeologists can
use their presence to plot the layout of
former structures as the holes may define
its corners and sides. Postholes may also
be dug on alignments of backfilled ditches
where boundaries have been upgraded
from simple ditch enclosures into
structural ones.

Dangers of posthole
interpretation
The relative frequency of postholes as a
feature in most eras combined with a lack
of good information on the phasing of
postholes, which often occurs onsite due
to horizontal truncation or a failure to spot
postholes at the level they were cut from,
can lead to a clutter of postholes that
invites imaginative interpretations. The
human mind seems quite capable of
creating patterns and the temptation to
see structures that are not there or
tenuous at best is quite strong. It is
considered good practice that supporting
evidence from multiple sources on site like
the perceived structures alignments with
other features onsite should be taken into
account before any hard interpretation is
made as to whether postholes with no
stratigraphic relationship to each other are
truly associated.

See also
Excavation
postpipe
Cut (archaeology)
Archaeological section
Feature (archaeology)
Fill (archaeology)
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