Vpliv mehanskih obremenitev na arheološke ostaline v tleh

Planning in situ preservation of archaeological remains requires understanding how surface mechanical loa­ding propagates through archaeological deposits. We conducted a controlled, laboratory experiment to evalua­te the effects of heavy-equipment compaction on buried remains. Artificial “sites” were constructed in a custom steel soil box using layered sandy silt and gravel. A range of archaeological and modern artefacts were placed at known depths and orientations; selected items were instrumented with strain gauges. A servo-hydraulic ac­tuator applied static and dynamic (vibratory) loads. Moisture and temperature were monitored before, during, and after loading, while three-dimensional documentation of layers and artefacts and in situ soil stiffness tests were performed pre- and post-loading.

The dataset captures layer compression and moisture redistribution, artefact displacements, stresses and strains on instrumented artefacts, and macroscopically observable damage. Results highlight that (i) soil grain size and moisture state substantially influence load transmission, (ii) the material properties and position of artefacts govern both movement and damage, (iii) artefact mobility within layers is a critical risk factor, and (iv) dynamic vibrations are markedly more damaging than equivalent static forces. Notably, a generic protecti­ve layer did not consistently reduce damage, underscoring that protection strategies must be tailored to soil conditions, loading mode, and target materials.

These findings advance an evidence-based approach to managing compaction risks and refine decision-ma­king for in situ preservation, including when and how to restrict dynamic loads and when protective layers are warranted.