SOME EFFECTS OF BIOTURBATION BY EARTHWORMS (OLIGOCHAETA) ON ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES

An experiment was devised to assess the extent to which small mammal bones may be dispersed in soil profiles by earthworm activity. The results indicate that certain species of earthworms, notably Lumbricus terrestris, displace small mammal bones considerable distances, both vertically and horizontally. These bones may also be broken and abraded and become mixed with bones from other sources. Other small objects are also likely to be moved in this way, so the stratigraphic integrity of biological and cultural remains retrieved from soils where earthworms have been active should be cautiously appraised. Some features associated with earthworm activity are also described.