Monuments At Risk in Somerset’s Peatlands (MARISP)

The Somerset peat moors contain a large number of archaeological sites that are of national or international importance because they contain rare organic remains such as wood. Such material is only preserved because waterlogging of the peat excluded oxygen and prevented the normal processes of decay. Many of these sites are now threatened by desiccation that will gradually destroy the organic materials and the environmental information from pollen, plant remains and beetles contained in the peat.	Assessment excavation revealing the collapsed palisade (top) and the wooden foundation of Glastonbury ‘lake village’.
In response to this threat the MARISP project was set up by Somerset County Council, English Heritage and the Environment Agency to assess the condition of the most important sites, the threats to their continued survival and the possibilities for their future protection. The sites chosen for the study included two Iron Age wetland settlements, an early Medieval causeway and numerous prehistoric wooden trackways.	Oak piles excavated from an early Medieval causeway between Street and Glastonbury show evidence of desiccation and shrinkage at their top ends but the pointed ends have well preserved toolmarks.
On each site a small excavation was carried out to provide samples of wood and environmental remains to assess their condition. Hydrological monitoring is being undertaken on each site over a twelve month period to see what threat is caused by desiccation. This uses piezometers (dipwells) and redox probes (which measure oxygen levels in the ground) at several different places in each field.	Environmental sampling for pollen, plant macrofossils and beetles beside a Neolithic brushwood trackway.
Initial results suggest that some of the sites may have suffered considerable damage from desiccation and one site may have been totally destroyed. It is hoped that the new agri-environment scheme that commences in 2004 can be used to help ensure a sustainable future for the sites that can be protected.	View of excavation trench across a late bronze age ritual pile alignment. Peat wastage has caused the ground level to shrink until the tops of the piles (centre) are at ground level. Cracks in the peat (foreground) are caused by desiccation.