fromellesreport[1]

OOD FROMELLES PHEASANT W OOD

DATA STRUCTURE REPORT R EPORT

PROJECT 12008

carried out on behalf behalf of The Australian Army

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Contents 1.0

Executive Su Summar y

7

2.0

Introduction

7

3.0 3.0

Site Site Loca Locati tion on,, Top Topog ogra raph phyy and and Geol Geology ogy

8

4.0 4.0

Hist Histor oric ical al and and Arc Archa haeo eolo logi gica call Bac Backg kgro roun und d

8

4.1 4.2

The Battle of Fromelles Pheasant Wood Burial Site

8 10

5.0

Aims and Objectives

12

6.0

Methodolog y

12

6.1 Historical Research 6.2 Project Preparation and Site Set-Up 6.3 Topographic Survey 6.4 Excavation 6.5 Laser Scanning 6.6 Soil Sampling and Analysis 6.7 Site Reinstatement

12 13 13 13 17 17 18

Results

18

7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5

18 18 38 44 45 46 52 52

7.0

Historical Research Pit Evaluation Human Remains Condition of Remains and Potential for DNA Preservation Estimating Number of Burials

7.6 Material Culture: Artefacts and Identication 7.7 7.8 8.0

Historical Perspectives Perspectives Soil Analysis

Discussion

55

8.1 8.2 8.3

55 56 58

Summary of the Fieldwork Results Interpretive Issues Closing Summary

9.0

Recommendations

58

10.0

Ack Acknowledgem gements

58

11.0

Bibliography

59

12.0

Appendices

62

12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6

62 79 81 87 89 93

Body Parts Glossary of Anatomical Terminology Soil Analysis Ground Penetrating Radar List of Contex Contextt List of Finds



























List of of Figure Figuress 6

Figure 1: 1:

Site lo location

Figu Figure re 2:

Aeri Aerial al Phot Photog ogra raph phss of of the the Sit Sitee

11

Figu Figure re 3:

The loca locatio tions ns of Pits 1-8 1-8 and and Trenc renche hess 1-7 1-7

16

Figu Figure re 4:

Phot Photogr ograp aphi hic, c, Surve Surveyy and and 3D Vie Views ws of Pit 1

19

Figu Figure re 5:

Deta Detail ilss of Pit Pit 1 Surv Survey ey

20

Figu Figure re 6:


23

Figu Figure re 7:


24

Figu Figure re 8:


27

Figu Figure re 9:


28

Figure Figure 10: 10:

Photogr Photograph aphic ic,, Survey Survey and 3D Views Views of Pit 4

29

Figu Figure re 11: 11:

Deta Detail ilss of Pit 4 Surv Survey ey

30


Photogr Photograph aphic ic,, Survey Survey and 3D Views Views of Pit 5

33

Figu Figure re 13: 13:

Deta Detail ilss of Pit 5 Surv Survey ey

34


The east-f east-faci acing ng sect section ion across across Pit 6

36


The westwest-fac facing ing sectio section n acros acrosss Pit Pit 6

36



38



39


Result Resultss of the groun ground-p d-pene enetra tratin tingg radar radar survey survey

88



























List of Plates Plates Plate 1:

West end of Pit 4 exposed in Trench Trench 4 showing soil changes & well dened

15

pit edges Plate 2:

German Eyelets

46

Plate 3:

Australian Buckles

47

Plate 4:

SF 258, General Servi rvice But Button (front)

48

Plate 5:

SF 258, General Servi rvice But Button (back).

49

Plate 6:

SF 206, ‘Rising Sun’ Badge

49

Plate 7: 7:

SF 202, Re Reverse of ‘Ri ‘Rising Su Sun’ B Baadge

49

Plate 8:

SF 94, Swastika Amulet

50

Plate 9:

SF 217, Cardboard Matchbox

51

Plate 10:

Example of Front and Back of Original Matchbox

51

List of Tables Table 1:

Dimensions of the pits at Pheasant Wood

Cover Plate: View of Evaluation Site taken from from Fromelles Church Tower (thanks to Tim Whitford)

© Glasgow University 2008

55



























OOD FROMELLES PHEASANT W OOD

DATA STRUCTURE REPORT R EPORT By Tony Tony Pollard, Pollard, Olivia Lelong, Lelong, Gaille MacKinnon, Iain Banks and Peter Peter Barton With contributions contributions by Cecily Cropper and Jo McKenzie

This document has been prepared in accordance accordance with GUARD GUARD standard operating procedures. procedures.

Author:

………………………………………… ………….. …………………………………………………….. Dr Tony Pollard

Date:

7 August 2008

Approved by: by:

………………………………………… ………….. …………………………………………………….. Dr Iain Banks

Date:

7 August 2008



























Project 12008 Fromelles Archaeological Evaluation

London GREAT BRITAIN

Lille

GERMANY

BELGIUM

Arras Dieppe

Amiens Reims Beauvais

LUXEMBOURG

Caen Rouen

Strasbourg

Paris

Orleans Dijon

Nantes

SWITZERLAND FRANCE

Lyon

Bordeaux r v e o f D o i t Calais r a S t

Dunkerque

Roeselare Marseilles

Kortnij

Pheasant Wood

Mouscron

St-Omer Roubaix

Boulogne-sur-Mer

Bruay-laBuissiere

Tournai

Lille

Bethune Le TouquetParis-Plage

ITALY

SPAIN

0

500 km

Lens Douai

Arras Valenciennes

Abbeville

Fromelles Merville

Estaires

Lille

Laventie Fauquissart

le Maisnil

Fromelles

Aubers

Lorgies

Ligny le Grand Illies

Bethune

0

Fournes-en-Weppes Herlies

Neuve-Chapelle

Seclin

La Bassee

Pheasant Wood

Extent of the site in 2008

Extent of the site in 2007

500 m

1 km





























1.0 Executive Executive Summary Summar y Between 23 May and 13 June 2008, burial pits dug by the Germans in 1916 in a eld adjacent to Pheasant Wood, Wood, near Fromelles in northern France, were subject to archaeological evaluation. The work was carried out by GUARD GUARD on behalf of the Australian Army and followed on from a non-invasive non-invasive survey carried out

in May 2007. That rst phase of investigation utilised geophysical survey, metal detector survey, survey, topographic survey and historical research to establish not only that Australian troops had been buried on the site by the Germans in July 1916, following the battle of Fromelles, but also the strong possibility that the graves had not been located by Allied recovery and reburial parties after the war and were therefore still intact (Pollard,

Barton & Banks 2007). In response to these ndings, a second phase of eldwork was commissioned, this time taking the form of an invasive evaluation evaluation involving limited excavation. excavation.

Limited trial trenching based on a 15-20% sample exposed human remains in all ve of the pits previously thought to have been used for for burial. Over three weeks, weeks, it became apparent that the graves were indeed

intact and contained large numbers of burials, with evidence for both Australian Australian and British troops identied. Evaluation was also carried out on the remaining three pits, which from aerial photographic evidence were known to have have remained open until at least September 1918. The presence of human remains in these three pits was limited to the west end of Pit 6, which was in keeping with the previous previous suggestion sugg estion (Pollard, Barton

& Banks 2007), based on aerial photograph analysis, that this part of the pit had been backlled at the same time as the other ve and may therefore have been used to contain overspill burials. A provisional report (Pollard 2008) on the evaluation was submitted to the Australian Ar my soon after the

completion of the eldwork. Although this more more extensive and wide-ranging report includes the results

of various on-site investigations and subsequent post-excavation post-excavation analyses, it does not substantially alter the general observations or conclusions contained within that provisional statement.

2.0 Introduction The Battle of Fromelles, fought on 19-20 July 1916, was the worst single day of the First World World War for the Australian ar med forces. Men of the Australian 5 th Division, not long arrived on the Western Front, went into action with British troops from the 61 st Division to attack German front and second line trenches in advance of Fromelles village, which sits on the Aubers Aubers Ridge in northern France. The aim was to prevent the Germans from reinforcing their lines to the south, where the Battle of the Somme had been raging since 1 July. July. Despite a preparatory bombardment by Allied guns, guns, the German defences remained largely intact, their protection enhanced by a series of concrete bunkers. Although some gains were made, made, with men making it into the German front line or breaking through beyond it, the losses losses were dreadful. The advance began at 6.00 pm in broad daylight and German machine guns and artillery ar tillery mowed down Australian and British troops as they stepped out of the sally ports in their own lines, crossed no man’s man’s land, assaulted the Ger German man front line trenches and then, in some cases, cases, left those positions in a fruitless search for the second line – many of these men dying while trying to defend drainage ditches. ditches. A second assault was ordered forward forward during the night, but the attack was then called off at the eleventh hour; this news did not reach the Australians, Australians, who jumped off once again to suffer further terrible losses. By the morning of 20 July the Australians had lost around 5500 killed, wounded, missing or captured. The British suffered around 1500 killed and wounded, wounded, with the Germans suffering similar losses (a more detailed description is provided in 4.1).





























in the 1916 battle of Fromelles was established after the war on the Rue Delvas, in what was formerly no mans land, and a memorial wall at the rear of the cemetery, cemetery, known as VC Corner, Corner, carries the names of the 1,299 Australians who fell in the battle and have have no known grave. grave. Although attempts were made by the Allies to locate graves dug by the Germans, there is no record of these being successful, at least in the area of Pheasant Wood. Wood. In more recent years, years, a preliminary examination of some of the aerial photographs showing showing the pits at Pheasant Wood led to a campaign by several Australian individuals (notably Lambis Englezos) to have the site investigated. investigated. After a long period of of discussions at various levels levels within the Australian Army and

Government, the Centre for Battleeld Archaeology at Glasgow University (a sub-division of GUARD) was commissioned to carry out a non-invasive non-invasive survey of the site in April April 2007. The eld element of the project took place between 15 May and 28 May 2007, following following initial reconnaissance of the site between 30 April and 2 May 2007. This non-invasive non-invasive survey of the site, which included a component of historical research in the German archives in Munich and elsewhere, established beyond doubt that Australian troops at least had been buried on the site, and also provided quite compelling evidence that the graves had not been re-discovered after the war and were therefore intact and undisturbed. This latter point, however, however, could not be established beyond doubt without some form of invasive intervention or ‘ground-truthing’; in short, an evaluation evaluation was required. required. Accordingly, Accordingly, the programme of work reported here was was commissioned.

3.0 Site Location, Topography Topography and Geology Geolog y Fromelles village is located some 11 km south of the French/Belgian French/Belgian border. border. It is 36 km north-east of of Arras and 8.5 km south-west of Armentières. It sits on a low ridge named after the village of Aubers, which which is situated just under 3 km to the south-west of Fromelles. For most most of the war the ridge lay around 2 km behind the German front line, with the only real att empt by the Allies to take it coming in May 1915, when a British attack on German positions in front of Aubers and Fromelles ended with no gains and heavy losses. losses. The ridge and the villages eventually fell to the British in autumn 1918 during the sequence of Allied actions known as the ‘Advance to Victory’. The initial survey area was a 30 m by 155 m strip of land, which which sits at an elevation of 21 m along the southern

edge of Pheasant Wood Wood (centred on 50˚ 36’ 35” E, 2˚ 51’ 16” N). The area of the graves took in most of the

eastern half of this strip. Although infrequently ploughed ploughed in the past, the ground was said by the farmer to be too wet for arable crops and so is currently given over to grass, which is cut twice a year for animal fodder.

The southern side of the survey area is bordered by an arable eld, which at the time of the investigation was given over to a crop of potatoes. This eld rises gently to the south for some 160 metres, metres, where it meets the northern edge of Fromelles village ( c c 27 m elev.), elev.), which at this point occupies the summit of the Aubers Ridge.

The rmness of the ground in dry weather and and the presence of surface water during wet wet weather is due to the presence of clay on the at terrain adjacent to Pheasant Wood, which contrasts with the sandier soils further up the slope. This picture was veried by the evaluation, with excavation excavation exposing clayey and silty subsoils overlying blue Ypresian clay at around 2 m below the surface. s urface.

4.0 Historical and Archaeological Background





























It was on 8 July that General Sir Charles Monro (GOC, First Army) instructed Lieutenant-General Sir Richard Haking (GOC XI Corps) to devise a diversionary scheme in French Flanders, north of the La Bassée canal. Haking deliberated upon a re-launch of the plan that had ended in costly 8 th Division failure on 9 May the previous previous year: the capture capture of a section of the Aubers Aubers Ridge. Once more the twin villages of Aubers and Fromelles were were marked down down as key targets. The German Commander-in-Chief, General Erich von Falkenhayn, suspected an attack in the Aubers area might be forthcoming, and had advised his commanders accordingly. On 9 July 1916, Monro ordered ordered Haking to limit the scope of the venture to the capture of the German forward trench system, at the same time condensing the attacking front from 6000 to 4000 metres – suitable for a two-Division enterprise. The key target, in the centre of the battle front, was a defensive defensive feature known known as the Sugar Loaf, one of hundreds of German mini-salients deliberately sited and constructed constructed along the length of the Western Western Front; several others, others, such as the Wick Salient, also a part of the attacking front, are also evident in the sector. Jutting out from the general line, their purpose was was to be heavily defended against

attack, but especially to provide annihilating annihilating enlade re against hostile ventures to left or right. Mini-salients therefore supported each other by covering all the g round between.

Although the Germans held the heights of the Aubers Ridg e, on both sides of no man’s man’s land the forwardmost network of positions lay on the plain, a waterlogged waterlogged terrain ter rain with countless drainage dykes that in most places had forced both sides to abandon the idea of conventional conventional full-depth trenches in favour of breastworks protecting a shallow excavation: excavation: in other words, words, the defences were built up from up from ground level, more than dug into the into the ground. Such constructions demanded a colossal quantity of timber, sandbags, sandbags, wire and sheeting, plus immense human effort to install and maintain. Once complete, however, however, they formed an effective defensive defensive shield. Having changed the names of captured towns and and villages in France and Belgium to create their new world (Fromelles became Petzstadt and Aubers, Buchheim) the Germany Army looked upon the positions as the border of a fresh empire. The trench/breastwork trench/breastwork shield was further bolstered bolstered by secreting within it a network network of reinforced concrete pillboxes; a great many many remained unknown to British observers. Such emplacements, absent in the Allied positions opposite, where the military mindset was offensive rather than defensive, were were used to shelter infantry and machine gun teams. When battle was joined and the initial enemy barrage had lifted, German troops emerged to deploy their weapons from the parapet. Following Following a systematic bombardment (utilising more guns per metre of front than had been employed to open the Somme offensive on 1 July), the two selected Divisions – the British 61 st (2nd South Midland) and 5th Australian – were to attack with a full complement complement of six infantry brigades. Surprise was not sought (nor was it possible with the enemy’s observational advantage), for it was essential the Germans Ger mans appreciated the possibility of imminent action in order to cause them to retain troops in the sector. On 16 July the bombardment began. began. On the same day day, Sir Douglas Haig’s Haig’s Deputy Chief of Staff, MajorGeneral Richard Butler, attended a First Army conference. He made it known that the offensive in Picardy was not proceeding with the required momentum momentum to make the Fromelles venture expedient. expedient. Despite this counsel, Sir Richard Haking still strongly favoured an attack; indeed, both he and Sir Charles Charles Monro assured GHQ that their guns were performing splendidly and that any abandonment, or even postponement, of the plan was unnecessary. unnecessary. Within 24 hours Monro had already already reconsidered his position, but but GHQ did not authorize cancellation, instead leaving the decision decision to Monro’s Monro’s discretion. Whilst the commander pondered pondered anew, anew, the weather deteriorated. Despite poor ground conditions, waterlogged ditches criss-crossing no man’s man’s land,





























and gunners to provide provide the free passage of no man’s land that had been promised. German artillery artiller y and trench mortar (Minenwerfer) batteries too had been left relatively unmolested, and with the benet of superior observation and assistance from guns in neighbouring sectors, they were able to deal with massing and forming Allied troop formations for mations before the attack had even begun. Losses were therefore already substantial before the whistles blew. blew. British and Australian troops then entered no man’s land through narrow sally ports in the

breastworks to nd themselves enladed by machinegun and small arms re, and swathed in shrapnel and

high explosives. explosives. German records note, however, that in places the Allied bombardment was highly effective,

with many men buried by collapsing breastworks. breastworks. Although certain key areas of fortication were blown down, the Germans were still able to largely enact their carefully designed and long-established defensive scheme, holding holding off all attempts at penetration within the central sector of the attacking front. front. On both

anks the defences were pierced; but with no reserves available and poor protection for support, supply and communication troops in crossing no man’s land, under sustained counter-attacks the assaults, which included a second Austrailian attaack around 10 pm, soon began to disintegrate, leaving those who had made prog ress stranded within a complex and alien enemy enemy trench system, and running short of ammunition and water. water. The central key position, the Sugar Loaf Salient, was said to have have been entered by a small force force of British troops st (numbered at 40 at 6.15 pm on a British 1 Army map drawn drawn up at the time; see NA PRO WO95 165); however, this is not substantiated by the extraordinarily detailed German records held in the Kriegsarchiv in

Munich: no British troops are believed believed to have have entered the Sugar Loaf. On the right Allied ank, substantial elements of the British 182 Brigade successfully gained the German (RIR 17) front line and held on for

an hour. On the northern ank, however, however, a more concentrated concentrated Australian force managed to inltrate the German positions in considerable numbers; they then waited in vain vain for adequate support and further orders. orders.

The following morning, thick mist and deliberately ooded trenches conspired to confuse those who, being either unable to retire or not receiving receiving orders, had spent the night within enemy lines; in attempting to retire to their own positions, most were were either killed or captured. Subsequent to the attack, the sector once more fell back into a state of relative quiet that lasted for the rest of the year and throughout 1917.

4.2 Pheasant Wood Burial Site Following Following the Battle of Fromelles (19-20 July 1916), large numbers of of Australian and British dead lay lay in no mans land, in the front line German trenches trenches and in locations behind these trenches. trenches. It was left to the Germans to bury many of these dead, and one of these grave sites was at Pheasant Wood, Wood, just to the north of Fromelles and over over 1.5 km behind the German front line. Eight pits were dug by German troops immediately south of the feature known as Fasanen-Waldchen Fasanen-Waldchen (Pheasant Wood). Wood). Orders issued by Major General Von Von Braun of the Imperial Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment No 21 suggest that work probably began on 22 July 1916; it appears to have been complete complete (that

is, ve pits pits backlled) on the aerial aerial photographs of 29 July and 1 August. In addition to their repeated

mention in documents dating from 1916 to 1928, pits can be seen on all post-23 July 1916 aerial photographs of the area (Figure 2). They are also included included on several several editions of British trench maps, originally originally as a group of eight on map segment of of Sheet 36SW2 Edition 6D dated dated 14.2.17, later as six (Sheet 36SW2 dated 2.7.18). The National Archives’ 8.8.16 edition (WO 297/944) does not yet mark the features, features, but all post

14.2.17 editions do. do. In most map information panels they are identied simply as earthworks, but on on some examples a dugout symbol is appended, perhaps an educated deduction by the aerial photograph inter preter.





























CU IW MA 100 284 map 25.04.1916

CU IW M 98 300 map 29.07.1916

CU IW M 98 359 map 01.08.1916































5.0 Aims and Objectives The aims of the evaluation were: were:

•

To establish the presence presence or absence of human remains remains in the pits at Pheasant Wood

Should burials be present:

• • • • •

To estimate the number of burials present. To assess the condition of the burials. If possible, to verify the nationality of the burials (Australian and British or or just Australian?). To assess the potential for the identication of individuals. To assess the feasibility of removal of the remains of individuals.

Should burials appear to be absent:

•

To establish beyond doubt that all of the human remains were were removed removed by the post-war post-war recovery recovery party.

These aims were to be achieved achieved through the implementation of the t he following objectives: objectives:

• •

To relocate relocate the eight pits using the information provided provided by by the previous phase phase of work as as a guide. To subject the ve pits suspected to contain massed burials to limited evaluation, with a maximum of a 20% sample of each of these pits to be examined.

Should burials be found in situ:

•

To expose expose human human remains only only to the degree required to full the previously stated project project aims. aims. No































Australian archives, but again no such document was identied, though t hough references to the burials are made in various pieces of archived correspondence. Much useful information has, however however,, been recovered recovered and

compiled in a separate report (Barton (Bar ton 2007), and is only referred to here where it reects directly on the results

of the evaluation and and the interpretation of of the evidence.

6.2 Project Preparation and Site Set-Up The eldwork element of the project required much preparation, not the least of these tasks being the formulation of a statement of works/project design, which which had to be cleared as appropriate to the task in hand by the French archaeological authorities for the region (represented by Virginie Motte, who visited the project with her colleagues on on several occasions). Just as important was obtaining permission to carry out the project from the landowner (Mme Demassiet) and tenant farmer (M Serge Desruelles), along with the Maire of Fromelles (the Mayor, Mayor, M Hubert Huchette). Colonel Feliks Feliks Skowronski, the Australian Australian Defence Attaché in Paris, and his assistant Sam Rossato played an important role in these negotiations, as did Martial Delebarre, a local employee of the CWGC, who was seconded seconded as local liaison to the project. From the outset the project was overseen by the Fromelles Evaluation Group (FEG), chaired by the CWGC and including representatives from from a number of interested parties, including the Australian Army (represented by Colonel Peter Peter Singh) and the British Ministry of Defence. In the months leading up to the project project the FEG held regular meetings in London, to which the project director (Tony Pollard) Pollard) reported on a regular basis.

In the lead up to the eldwork, eldwork, the project was managed on behalf of the Australian Army by Roger Lee, Lee, head of the Australian Army History Unit, while the eld operation was overseen by by Major General Mike O’Brien, accompanied by Roger Lee. Dr Denise Donlon acted as an observer on on behalf of the Australian Army. Army. The complexity complexity of the operation and the nature of the deposits, which potentially included human remains and unexploded ordnance, required a thorough health and safety plan, which was developed through discussions

with GUARD’ GUARD’ss safety ofcer, Robert Robert Will, and Glasgow University’s University’s safety ofcer, Cled Williams. Williams.

The project team was put together at an early juncture and was built around a core of specialists with long experience in forensic and mass grave archaeology, archaeology, with Gaille MacKinnon taking the role of project anthropologist. The team played a vital role in the development development of the methodologies adopted, adopted, and Cecily Cropper has been credited as a contributor contributor to this report because of her input at this stage (while also

going on to play a key role in the eld). Also recruited was Steve Litherland, a forensic forensic archaeologist with much experience experience of working on the Western Western Front. The rest of the team, all of of whom had experience experience in































6.4 Excavation The approximate locations locations of the pits on the ground were established by overlaying overlaying a 1916 aerial photograph

on the map of the eld using GIS; geo-referenced coordinates were were thus obtained for the corners of each pit.

The coordinates were marked out on the ground g round as a guide to the positioning of trenches. trenches. As it happened, the pits were found to lie almost immediately to the north of these positions, a ghosting effect which was consistent across the site. Two Two long evaluation trenches (Trenches (Trenches 1 & 2) were initially excavated by machine across the locations of two pairs of grave pits (1-2 and 5-6), in order to establish their exact positions, their proximity to each other

and examine the soil prole prole between them. A smaller trench was was excavated excavated across each of the other pits (1,

3, 4, and 7), while the entire surface of Pit 8 was topsoil-stripped topsoil-stripped prior to trenching. trenching. The central portions of Trenches Trenches 1 and 2, where they cut through the ploughsoil and upper part of the subsoil between the grave pits,

were subsequently backlled backlled to facilitate movement of the mechanical excavator excavator around the site.

In each trench, excavation excavation by machine proceeded from north to south. The soil was removed in spits using

a 1.6-m wide toothless ditching bucket bucket under close archaeological archaeological supervision. The rst spit removed the

modern turf and topsoil. The surface of the underlying ploughsoil ploughsoil was then scanned with a metal detector,

signals were excavated, excavated, and nds were were bagged and numbered according to context and spit. The ploughsoil

was then removed in spits of 0.2 m, with the surface of each spit scanned before its removal. Below the

ploughsoil, at depths of 0.2-0.3 m below the present present ground surface, the upper lls of of the pits were identied identied as bands of distinctive, mottled, blue and orange orange clay within the generally yellow-orange clay subsoil. Excavation

by machine proceeded through the uppermost portions of the pit lls and the upper subsoil horizon, for no more than 0.2 m. This exercise provided much much better denition of the pit edges than would have have been the case if stripping had ceased at the very top of of the pit.

The grave pits (1-5) were readily recognisable by soil changes changes – most obviously obviously through through the the presence presence of a more obvious component component of blue clay than the surrounding subsoil. This material (Ypresian clay) exists at a depth

of about 2 metres and its presence presence in the upper upper lls was a clear indicator of ground disturbance at depth. At this initial cleaning stage, the indicators indicators for the graves being being intact were already promising. The edges of the

pits were sharply dened against the natural subsoil, and in some cases slight undulations had been created

by the curved backs of the German shovels used to dig the pits (tool marks were also observed against some the sides of the pits during excavation). excavation). Had the graves been discovered discovered by an Allied recovery recovery party after the war, it is likely that exhumation would have been a rather clumsy affair, entailing some ragged over-digging































Initially, steps were cut only into the upper levels of the adjacent pit lls in order to maintain the integrity of the pit sides, but in some cases the tops of pit sides were slightly reduced – largely to prevent collapse onto burial deposits – and shoring s horing was also used where required (see below).

Plate 1: West end of Pit 4 exposed in Trench Trench 4 showing soil changes & well dened pit edges. edges.

Using the hand-dug sondage as a guide, mechanical excavation ceased approximately approximately one spit above the burial horizon and hand excavation excavation continued. continued. Initially, Initially, this took the form form of careful spading out of of the generally

sticky, sticky, moist clay ll, but as burial deposits were encountered the spade was exchanged for the trowel.

Polytunnels were initially placed over each pit, both to provide protection from inclement weather and to shield human remains from view In most cases these were replaced or supplemented by larger canvas tents































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7 t i P 2 t i P 2 h c n e r T

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6 t i P

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Some artefacts were recovered recovered during hand excavation excavation of the upper pit lls; machining paused when when the regular metal detector scans indicated the presence of such nds. Their positions were surveyed in three dimensions using a total station and they were lifted, bagged and numbered. Other artefacts were encountered at the level of burial deposits, in many cases directly associated with with bodies. These were numbered, surveyed, recorded by written written description and, where where possible, photographed in situ. Some of these were removed, removed,

cleaned and photographed photographed again. Expert advice on the nds assemblage was provided provided by Laurie Milner,

formerly of the Imperial War War Museum in London. Where artefacts were clearly associated with a body, body, the

body number was incorporated into the small nds record to make the t he association explicit in the site archive. archive.

Although the evaluation’s evaluation’s aim was not to disturb any burials, some s ome smaller bones of hands and feet were removed and bagged to prevent their dislocation and loss in the often often very wet burial burial matrix. Bags were labelled to associate them with individual individual skeletons and their relevant relevant limbs. These were returned to each

pit in a collective bag, along with a separate collective bag containing any individually bagged nds that had been removed for photography, photography, before backlling (it is important to t o note that no human remains or artefacts

were removed from burial contexts on the completion of the project). This prevented their dislocation and loss in the wet burial matrix, which at times made keeping them intact almost impossible, and also further disturbance (and possibly loss) should a future attempt be made to recover the bodies.

As cleaning of the upper burial horizons proceeded (Pits 5 and 1 being the rst to be excavated), it became apparent that the exposed human remains were skeletal, though in some trenches decay products were apparent

in the form of the viscous burial matrix, which gave off a strong odour. odour. The rst objective was to clean clean off on the upper deposit of burial remains. The exposed burial deposits were recorded in plan by written description on pro forma burial sheets and by

































remains, a geo-archaeologist, Dr Jo McKenzie, examined the sediments in each pit and took samples from the

various lls. lls. Analysis of these samples has provided provided valuable information information on soil morphology, morphology, its associated chemical and physical characteristics characteristics and the ultimate effect that these may have on the decomposition of clothing and cadaveric cadaveric materials in the pits (Janaway (Janaway 2008). The positions of all samples were recorded recorded in three dimensions.

6.7 Site Reinstatement After recording and the replacement of any artefacts and small bones (see above) that had been removed

during excavation, excavation, the pits were backlled. backlled. Backlling was carried out in stages to prevent prevent damage to the fragile burial deposits and to simplify their re-exposure, should recovery of the remains take place in the

future. Damage to bones can severely severely comprise the ability to subsequently yield DNA proles, proles, and so great care was taken during this stage of the works to ensure that those bodies which had been exposed were accorded maximum protection.

The exposed human remains were rst  rst covered with a permeable geotextile g eotextile in order to protect them, while also allowing free drainage through the burial matrix, thereby preserving the burial conditions as much as

possible. A thick layer of of ne sand was placed on on top of this and carefully packed packed by hand around and over over the skeletons to further further protect them. A layer of lightweight, lig htweight, freely draining draining substrate (vermiculite) was then

placed over the sand, in order to absorb pressure pressure from the heavy clay above. above. The clay was then backlled as carefully as possible to the top of the each pit. Steel mesh was placed above above each backlled backlled pit to prevent any any unauthorised disturbance of the graves, and the ploughsoil and modern topsoil were replaced above this. this.

































































7.2.1 Pit 1 (Figures 1 (Figures 4 & 5) Pit 1 was investigated at the southern end of Trench Trench 2 in a sondage measuring 1.8 m east/west by 2.2 m. The sondage was located against ag ainst the western end of the pit. The modern turf and topsoil (2001) sealed the ploughsoil (2002) that had accumulated since the First World War, War, which consisted of stiff, compacted mid

brown silty clay with frequent ne roots and light orange clay mottles, up to 0.24 m thick. Shrapnel balls, spent

.303 bullets and shell s hell fragments were recovered from it.

The upper ll (2006) and and cut [2007] of Pit 1 were exposed in the surface of the sterile subsoil after removal of the ploughsoil. The upper subsoil consisted consisted of stiff, compact, mid yellow-brown yellow-brown silty clay clay with light orange orange mottles and rare roots. roots. It lay 0.3 m deep above above the lower lower subsoil horizon, consisting consisting of plastic, consolidated,

light yellow-brown yellow-brown silty clay with small lenses of light blue-grey clay (2005). A modern plastic eld drain drain ran east/west across the centre of Trench Trench 2 to the north of Pit 1. Pit 1 measured 9.9 m east/west (as exposed in plan) and 2.2 m north/south at the top. top. The north and south

sides descended at angles of about 75 degrees from the horizontal to a fairly at base, while the west side (pit end) was nearly vertical vertical (90 degrees) at its south-west corner. The cut measured about 1.09 m deep from the

top of the ll to the base of the pit in this south-west corner.

Excavation reached the base of the pit only in the south-west corner of the sondage, to the south of B12.

Part of one body was exposed in this area, a pair of exed legs (B20) which had been tied with what appeared

to be telephone wire wire (SF 185), probably for ease of transport. The upper part of the body extended extended beneath B12, B22 and B30 to the north. Water regularly seeped into the pit and remained at this lower level, even even after several days days of dry weather. This body from the primary burial phase was covered with with a thick layer layer of

































Around and directly above these second-phase burials lay loose, sticky, sandy clay (2013), mid grey in colour with dark and light grey mottles and lenses of orange clay, clay, averaging 0.1 m thick. This was the upper

backll of the pit, transformed in colour and texture through contact with the bodies and the products of

decomposition. Crumbs and small fragments of lime (2009) lay in patches within within this deposit. Above lay

backlled clay (2006), consisting of rm, plastic, light orange silty clay with pale blue-grey clay mottles and small lenses of bright orange, iron-rich sand sand and ne gravel. It lay up to 0.8 m thick, thick, but was shallower shallower (only 0.55 m thick) at the western western end of the pit, where the lower lower ll 2010 sloped up against the cut. A leather bayonet scabbard scabbard (SF 120) was found in the lower lower part of the backll; it bore the stamp ‘HGR 15’, indicating that it was manufactured by by Hepburn, Gale & Ross in Bermondsey in1915; these were used by British and and Australian troops alike (L Milner, Milner, pers comm). 7.2.2 Pit 2 (Figures (Figures 6 & 7) Pit 2 was exposed and investigated at the northern end of Trench Trench 2, at the edge of Pheasant Wood, Wood, in a sondage measuring 1 m east/west by 2.65 m. The sondage was located around 3 m from the western end of of the pit. Although it lay only 8.8 m to the north of Pit 1, soil conditions were quite different in and around this pit. The modern turf and topsoil (2001) sealed the post-WWI ploughsoil (2002), which was was drier and waxier in texture than above Pit 2. As elsewhere, several shell fragments, spent .303 bullets and shrapnel balls were recovered from it. The sterile subsoil at this northern end of the trench differed slightly from from that at the the southern southern end. The upper upper

subsoil (2004) was the same stiff, compact, mid yellow-brown silty clay with ne light orange mottles, but with roots penetrating it much more more frequently At a depth of c of c 0.3 m it gave g ave way to a lower lower subsoil horizon (2005)



































































evident as decayed textile over and around the torso. torso. A small metal hook (SF 205) was discovered above above his pelvis, and a bone bone toothbrush (SF213) lay beside his left ribs. B42 lay immediately to the east, supine supine with

his upper spine steeply curved, possibly to t the body into the pit; his badly damaged head lay against the northern edge of the pit. His left arm extended across the torso and face, face, while his right appeared to extend extend

into the western baulk; it may have been exed, reappearing as BP46, a right wrist and hand that rested against the north side of the pit at an angle. Two Two small horn buttons (SF 210) were found just above above the sternum, and may have derived from an undergarment. Remnants of textile visible around the upper torso torso may have represented a groundsheet in which B42 was wrapped. His lower legs and feet lay directly above above the left arm of B41, while his knees lay beneath the right arm of B47. An articulated ar ticulated hand (BP58) was exposed at the eastern baulk; it may have related to B47, which lay just to the north. A left lower arm and hand (BP65) also extended from the eastern baulk, lying directly directly over BP58

































it lay a left ankle and foot (BP56); the remainder of this individual continued westward, westward, beneath the lower lower

backll (3010), with B39 above. above. BP56 and BP57 had had been buried buried in a primary primary phase of deposition and covered by a layer layer of soft, sticky silty clay (3010), light orange in colour with small blue-grey mottles and

ecks of dark orange iron staining, which displayed a hackly fracture when broken. broken. It contained a higher

proportion of dark orange clay in proximity proximity to the bones (possibly from the decay of textiles), t extiles), and lay up to 0.12 m thick.

Another ve bodies or body parts lay above this, representing a second phase of burial; they appeared to have been buried in the order order BP48, followed by B37, B38 and B40, and nally B39. BP48 was represented by a left lower lower leg, ankle and foot and and prone left pelvis, pelvis, just exposed at the western edge of the trench. He may have lain beneath beneath B37 immediately to the east, but this was not established beyond doubt. doubt. B37 lay prone

with his head head to the south and his right arm lying against the south edge of the pit. His legs were were exed at the



































































































mid grey-yellow silty clay with pale blue-grey clay mottles (4005), which also contained contained bands of orange iron-

































which occurred more frequently toward the base of the deposit and may indicate differential decomposition

































































section at approximately the same level; level; the rest of this individual may have have been present in the western western baulk





















































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































Pit

2

Body (B) Body Part (BP) B47

Position of Body Body

Associated Skeletons

General Obser vations

Extended body,

Above B41, B42, B60, may be associated with B58. Upper layer of body mass.

Body consists of an individual lying in a prone position, right hand lies upon the left thorax of B41, right lower arm over the right knee of B42, right humerus lying upon left knee/distal knee/distal femur of B42. Left arm may be related related to BP65

exed limbs, prone position

or BP58. The right leg is exed at the knee and rests against the cranium cranium of

B60, the distal tibia and bula extend into the unexcavated east east section of the grave

ll, a left distal femur is visible extending into the east section and is possibly associated with this body. body. The position of the right hand suggests sugg ests that the hand hand was resting upon an object, or possibly a fold in the groundsheet covering B41. Ribs and vertebrae are generally very fragmentary and in poor condition. The mid- and lower-thoracic lower-thoracic vertebrae have been displaced, two lumbars are articulated with each other, other, but lie out of alignment with the rest of the vertebral column. Post-mortem damage to right shoulder, right pelvis, right distal femur and proximal tibia.

2

BP58

Unknown

Small horn buttons (SF261) found on right lower thorax, small metal button found by right femoral shaft (SF259,) gas mask goggles (SF260) in situ upon the cranium, possible associated with a toothbrush (SF213). Body part consists of un-sided proximal, intermediate and distal hand phalanges

Under elbow elbow of (the distal phalanges are exed at c.90º). BP65 May be The rest of the body is thought to extend associated into the unexcavated unexcavated east section of the with B47. grave. Upper layer of body body mass.

Associated Artefacts



























Pit

2

2

Body (B) Body Part (BP) BP59

B60





Flexed, body lying on left side

BP59 lies under B42 & B47. Lower layer of body body mass.

Body part consists of l eft mid-shaft to distal femur, patella and proximal end of the left tibia. The femur femur is aligned

None

Appears extended in a prone position

B60 lies under B47 & B42. Possibly. assoc. with BP44. Lower layer of body body mass.

NNW, whilst the tibia is exed at approx. 90º and seems to run east-west into the pedestal of grave ll that remains in situ to support B42. Post-mortem excavation excavation damage to medial femoral condyle. condyle. Body part remains unexcavated as it lies under B42 & B47. Body consists of a partially exposed SF216, 218, 243 individual - the right right pelvis of B47 lies over right lwr. arm and hand of B60, the right knee of B47 lies abutting the cranium cranium of B60, the right right foot of B43 lies to the north-east north-east of B60’s B60’s cranium. Postmortem and excavation damage to left scapula, radial head and left ribs. ribs. Artefacts associated with this body include: a horn button (SF216); an eye-piece eye-piece from a gas mask (SF218); and a metal hook for a

possible ?tunic collar (SF243). 2

BP61

Semi-

exed, supine position

B47 and Body part consists of a right lower leg, BP65 lie with B47’s B47’s upper torso and BP65’s left above BP61. hand lying above above BP61’s BP61’s right knee. The Lower layer lower leg of this individual was covered of body body by textile, fragments of which remain in mass. situ along along the shafts of both the tibia and

None

the bula. The rest of the body body remains 2

BP58

Unknown

2

BP63

Unknown

unexposed. Body part consists of un-sided proximal, intermediate and distal hand phalanges

Under elbow of BP65 (the distal phalanges are exed at c.90º). May be The rest of the body is thought to extend associated into the unexcavated unexcavated east section of the with B47. grave. Upper layer of body body mass. Unknown. Body part part consists of of a fragment fragment of the Upper layer left frontal (including the left orbit) and of body body the left parietal of the skull, and was found mass. to be lying on the left side. Preservation is good, however, post-mortem damage is present on the orbital margin (radiating toward the sphenoid bone), and also upon

None

None



























Pit

2






Extended, supine

Unknown. Upper layer of body body mass.

Body part consists of a left foot aligned north-south in the grave. Some postmortem damage is present upon the metatarsals, otherwise fair preservation can be seen. The rest of the body remains

None

to be exposed and lies in the upper ll 2

BP65

Extended, prone

Hand phalanges of BP58 under elbow of BP65. BP65. Upper level of body mass.

of the unexcavated unexcavated eastern area area of the grave. Body part consists of lower left arm and hand, this body part could possibly be associated with B47. Left arm is

extended, elbow is exed at approx. 90º, hand travelling down slope towards the north. Fair preservation, post-mortem damage at the distal radius and the head

of the fth metacarpal. Textile fragments found on top of the lower arm, whilst an iron button was found by the left wrist. Body lies in supine position, the right humerus is abducted from body, body, elbow is bent, the right hand rests over the skull. The left arm runs along the side of the body, elbow is bent, hand rests on the centre of the chest area. Both legs are extended and bent at the knee, the right and left lower legs and feet are in the unexcavated unexcavated west section of the grave

ll. This individual individual has been wrapped in a British groundsheet which remains very well-preserved with retention of material form, elasticity, colour, with preservation of the numerous metal eyelets from a groundsheet (SF196). This individual has suffered massive cranial trauma and displacement, the overlying groundsheet was found to have collapsed into the exposed brain cavity cavity of the

skull. Remnants of a possible orange? tourniquet remains in situ over the right distal humerus (SF230), adjacent to the elbow, and the wrist also appears to be very damaged.

-



























Pit

3


Position of Body Body Extended,

exed at knee, supine



Under B38, Trauma can also be seen to the right poss. over and left thorax, the left wrist and elbow, lower legs numerous vertebrae appear to be slightly of BP48 BP48 out of alignment, the right pubis is (which detached. There is also excavation remains in damage to the knees. A leather tie ?shoeunexcavated lace (SF225) was also found which the west excavator thinks may have been tied to section). either side of the t he groundsheet in the Upper level region around the head – perhaps to wrap and contain the very damaged cranium? of body body An Australian ?belt buckle was found mass. underneath the chin (SF228), together

Associated Artefacts SF195, 196, 225, 227-228, 230

with a mother-of-pearl button and a ?eye (possibly from an undershirt(?) (SF227), whilst a alloy rie ?cleaner was found 3

B37 (Cont)

Cont

Cont

3

B39

Extended, supine and lying slightly on the left side

B39 lies over B40; right scapula scapula of B39 lies directly over left foot foot of B38. Right leg of B38 under left arm and skull skull of B39. Upper level of body mass.

by the right pelvis (SF195). Bo B oth right and left pubic symphyses display a morphology that suggests sugg ests an age between 15-23 years, with with a mean of 18.5 years (Brooks & Suchey, Suchey, 1990). This individual appears to be robust and very tall and seems to have have been forced to

t into the burial pit. His feet are running up against the north section and his head (which is facing west) lies up against the south section. His right humerus is lying over his face, his right lower arm is over his left shoulder, the left arm and hand is extended along the side of the body. body. His upper body is twisted to the left, and the

legs are extended and slightly exed at the knees in order to accommodate his body into the available space. Peri-mortem trauma observable on: right proximal humerus (right elbow is completely disarticulated from the right lower arm); left elbow and left wrist, left and right thorax; right scapula. The vertebral column is not in correct anatomical articulation or alignment. British general service button (SF 258) may be associated with either B39 or B40. Mother of pearl buttons from possible underwear garment found

Cont

SF201, 221, 222, 223, 224, 229



























Pit

3

3

Body (B) Body Part (BP) B39 (cont)



cont

cont

B40

Extended, supine


in abdominal (SF201,222) and button with thread in chest region (SF223). Remnants of sock on foot and lower leg of B39 (SF229). Possible groundsheet groundsheet near left humerus (SF224). Textile materials (SF221) found around skull and upper body, it is possible that his tunic had been pulled up around face. Lying under This individual lies extended and halfB39. exposed in the grave – the majority of Upper level the left side of the body lies within the unexcavated east section of the grave ll. of body body mass. The right humerus humer us is abducted from the body, bent at the elbow, and the hand lies under the right femur of B39. B 39. The right leg is slightly bent at the knee, mid-shaft

Associated Artefacts cont

SF198-200, 220

tibia, bula and foot also lie within the unexcavated east section of the grave ll. Skeleton exhibits extensive cranial trauma (the upper portion of the frontal bone was accidentally removed by machine). However, However, the facial skeleton has suffered s uffered extensive disruption and both mandibular condyles have sustained damage, both of which appear to be be peri-mortem in nature. Fractures are also present to the right thorax and the sternum, and there is disruption and displacement to the vertebral column from approx the 7th thoracic to the second lumbar vertebrae. Finds include a bone tooth-

brush (SF198); a leather ?money-belt

3

BP48

Appears extended, prone

around the waist (does not appear to be army issue) (SF199); a shell button found found around abdominal area (SF220); and a gas mask/rubberised bag is nestled under the right armpit (SF200). Individual missing a number number of teeth ante-mortem. General service button (SF 258) may have come from either B39 or B40. This body part consists of a left pelvis and left lower leg, ankle and foot. The rest of the body lies in the unexcavated unexcavated

Potentially lying under lower legs and feet feet of west section of the grave ll. B37. Upper level

None





























Pit 3






Unknown, possibly lying on

Lies above BP57 and below B39. Lower level of body body mass. Lies below B56 and B39. Lower level of body body mass Lies over B32. Upper level of body body mass

This body part consists of a left distal

None

left side? 3

4

BP57

B31

Flexed, supine

Unknown, prone

tibia, bula and foot. The rest of the body remains unexposed.

This body part consists of a left mid-shaft mid-shaft to distal humerus and proximal proximal third of

None

a left radius and ulna, arm is exed at the elbow elbow joint. The shoulder and wrist joints of this individual remain in the

unexcavated east section of the grave ll. This partially exposed body consists of a skull and and arms of an individual individual whose body continues to run into the unexcavated unexcavated east section of the grave

ll. The body is aligned NW-SE NW-SE and lies immediately to the east of B32. The skull is fractured and severely disrupted in the left parietal/temporal region. The right and left arms lay crossed over one another and also lie over the extended right arm of B32. SF234 is a leather wrist-band which is tied and knotted around the left wrist; there is also a mass of material of

uncertain classication - possibly a tunic as a buckle and leather buttons (SF233) appear to be associated. A concentration of this material at the lower lower arm level may suggest that the garment was pulled up over the head. A cuff of a knitted woollen garment also remains on the left wrist. A matchbox (SF217) was found in the same area as the concentration of material and buckle (ie around lower lower arm and wrist area) and therefore there may

SF217, 233, 234





























Pit 4






cont

cont

tightly along the left torso, left leg is

cont

extended with the distal left tibia, bula and foot underlying the right torso of B33. Possible cords of a head-band for gas mask goggles (SF232) run across the upper back back of this t his individual (ie from the left to the right scapulae). Upper garment still present on on the torso. Possible postmortem trauma on the skull from the

removal of the overlying clay grave ll. 4

B33

Extended, prone

B33 lies over B49, B35 & B32. Upper level of body body mass

Only the skull and the upper body are exposed, the rest of the body is not visible as it extends under the east baulk. This individual is aligned east-west and lies up against the south section of the pit. pit. The right humerus is abducted at 90º from the t he

None

torso, exed at the elbow, with the right

4

B34

Extended, supine

Lies immediately

hand running partially under the east baulk. The left arm is also also abducted at 90º, runs vertically up the southern edge of the pit. Proximal Proximal third of humerus is fractured; radius and ulna are in articulation and run vertically back down the south edge edge of pit by the left left side of the skull. The left hand presumably presumably lies under the face. This body lies over over the lower legs and feet of B32 and B49. Upper garment still present over the torso, although it is very fragmented and not well-preserved. Removal of clay around skull resulted in removal of the thin outer cortex of the skull which still had hair attached. Only the legs (mid-shaft femora) and feet of this individual are exposed, the rest

SF194, 231





























Pit 4


Position of Body Body Extended, supine



Overlies This individual is aligned north-south and B36, B34, parallel to B36 and B32. The head and B32 and right arm remain unexcavated as they lie under B33. beneath B33, the left arm is exed, the Upper level hand lies over over the left pelvis. The left leg is exed, the knee is raised on the femur of body body mass of B36, then slopes down and under the left leg of B35. The right leg is extended, the foot lies right up against the north edge of the pit. Gas mask (SF235) components located on distal end of left femur. Partial remains of of tightly woven woven material on left leg. Loosely woven woven

Associated Artefacts SF235, 238,

?239, 258

material (?sand bag/?lime bag) present

4

B36

Extended, prone

B36 lies over B34, B35 lies over B36. Upper layer of body body mass

and is wrapped around both the front and back of the pelvis and is poorly preserved. Partial remains of more tightly woven woven material on torso and left arm. A piece of wood was found lying over the right arm (SF238). Two Two buttons and a buckle buckle were also found between B35 and B36 (SF239) together with a metal button (SF241). No visible trauma, although mid-thoracic vertebrae are displaced and lie only in relatively approximate alignment. This individual is aligned north-south and lies next to the west section, the right arm is extended at 90º to the body, left arm

slightly exed, elbow runs into the west section, the left arm ar m remains unexcavated and lies under the left pelvis. pelvis. The right and left legs are extended, with the right foot up against the north north section of the pit, whilst the left lower leg and foot extend into the west west section. The lower lower legs of B36 overlie B34, the right femur

SF202, 207, 236, 237, 239





























Pit 4






cont

cont

the body. There was a safety pin (SF207) found by the left side of the mandible at the gonial angle – perhaps to secure

cont

a bandage?; an Australian Rising Sun

4

B49

Extended, supine

Badge (SF202) was found on the right side of the lower torso, torso, and a brass wire was found coiled around the left wrist (SF236). B49 lies This individual is aligned east-west and under B33. is represented by the pelvis, legs and Upper layer proximal lwr.legs only, the right and left of body body feet are under the body of B33, the rest mass of the body lies in the unexcavated unexcavated west

None

section of the grave ll. The left leg lies right up against the south section of the pit. Textile fragments found on both pelves, along along the sides of both femora,

and the right tibia and bula. No trauma visible. 4

B55

Unknown

4

BP53

Unknown

4

BP54

Unknown

No This individual was identied within associated a small sondage which was excavated skeletons, between the femora femora of B36, and but consists of right and left distal femurs immediately which are articulated with right and left below B36. proximal tibiae and bulae. Due to the Lower level position of this body within the grave ll, the remaining skeletal elements of of body mass this individual were not subsequently exposed. Below B36, This body part consists of the top of a Upper level skull which is visible tucked within the of body crook of of the left arm arm of B36, foramen foramen mass magnum is tilted superiorly and facing north. Head hair was found to be associated with this individual. Unknown This body part runs north-south in the

None

None

SF206





























Pit 5


Position of Body Body Extended, prone



Over B09, This is one of the last individuals to have been placed in this pit. The neck is exed in B17 and under BP10. such a position that the foramen magnum Upper level of the skull can be seen and there is slight of body body disarticulation between the 1 st and 2 nd mass cervical vertebrae, perhaps the head has slumped forward after placement in the

Associated Artefacts SF178, 179, 180

grave and before backlling? The right

5

B09

Extended, prone

arm is abducted away from the body and lies over B17, the left is also abducted and runs vertically up the south section of the pit. Left arm is fractured above the wrist. As with B09, damage to these elements may have been incurred during initial excavation, as no carpals, metacarpals or phalanges phalanges are present. However, However, this remains to be established. An alternative explanation could be that the left hands of B09 and B08 may have both been been lost peri-mortem. There is also trauma to the left torso and pelvis. pelvis. The left leg lies over over B09’s B09’s skull, torso and left pelvis.Artefacts that are possibly associated with this body are a bandolier (SF178) which was located to the left side of the lower torso and above the pelvis, pelvis, a mother of pearl button was associated with the left wrist (SF179), and leather straps for braces were found by the lower right ribs (SF180). Lying under This individual lies extended and prone B08. along the south section of of the grave Upper level and immediately beneath the left pelvis of body body of B08. The right arm is raised above mass the head, the humerus is under the right pelvis of B08, and the hand is presumed presumed to be under the mid-torso of B08. The

SF75,181,































Pit 5






cont

cont

An alternative explanation could be that the left hands of B09 and B08 may have have both been been lost peri-mortem. The pelvis and proximal right femur are observable, the rest of the body runs into the unexcavated unexcavated east section of the grave

cont

ll. Leather straps for braces were found found 5

BP10

Extended, lying on right side

by the lower right ribs (SF181) and also remnants of decayed textile (SF75). Over BP13 This body part consists consists of a left lower lower leg Upper level and foot. BP13 is aligned exactly as BP10 of body body and represents the right lower leg and mass foot of BP10. The left left foot foot of BP10 lies immediately above the left arm of BP08.

SF104

Trauma to proximal proximal tibia and distal bula. Cotton thread runs parallel to the tibia

and bula, possible ?puttee fragment? Textile ?strap ?st rap fragment (SF104) possibly 5

BP13

Extended, lying on right side

5

B17

Extended, supine

associated with the ribs of BP10. Under This body part par t consists of a right lower BP10’s left leg and foot which remains unexcavated lower leg. as the rest of the body runs into the west Upper level section of the grave. BP10 represents of body body the left lower leg of this individual. No mass visible trauma. Possibly This body lies beneath B08, aligned associated north-south (and 90º to B08 & B09),

None

None































Pit 5

5




cont

cont

BP23

Extended, Prone


over B19’s right humerus. B19 lies in the base of the pit and and is part of the primary primary depositional event. event. SF136 is a zinc eyelet found near the cranium. Lies over This body is prone and aligned northBP19. south at the eastern side of the pit. The Lower level right arm runs r uns under the unexcavated unexcavated east section of the grave ll. The skull and the of body body mass left thorax are both severely disrupted. The vertebrae are not in complete alignment or full articulation, which may mean that this individual had sustained peri-mortem trauma to this region, and/


SF177, 182

or that the body was also sufciently

5

B24

Unknown

Beneath B08.

decomposed at the time of burial for these skeletal elements to be found out of alignment. The body body from from the pelvis downwards to the feet remains – due to its position – unexposed. Trouser brace straps remain on left ribs (SF182). SF177 is a groundsheet that lies to the north of B19 & B23 and its position suggested to the excavator that this groundsheet was used to deposit these two individuals together into the grave pit. This body part consists of a right distal femur and patella which lies beneath the

SF121































Pit 5





Unknown

Upper level of body body mass

This body part consists of part of a cranium with an observable sagittal suture and fragmentary right and left partietal bones which is overlain to the north by a


SF137

?gas mask (SF137). 5

6

BP28

BP62

Unknown

Unknown

Under This body part consists of a left foot BP25. (metatarsals are the only skeletal elements Lower level exposed) which lies immediately below of body body the right distal lower leg and and foot of mass BP25, and so may possibly be associated with BP25. Unknown Thi This bo body pa part number rep reprresen sents a number of commingled right and left foot bones which were found within the fragments of two black woollen woollen socks. These foot bones were also loosely associated with two mid-shaft fragments

None

Black woollen socks – no

small nds number allocated.

of two tibiae and bulae. bulae. The morphology of the tibiae and bulae suggest that they are from two individuals. individuals. However, However, this

remains to be conrmed.

12.2 Glossary Glossary of Anatomical Anatomical Terminol Terminology ogy Anthropological reports use standardised anatomical terminology ter minology to record ndings and undertake analyses of human remains accurately in order to ensure that the side, side, location, and other features of each skeletal































Burial Positio Positions ns of the Body Extended

A burial position where the body body is laid out at

Flexed

A burial position where the body is laid on its side, (often in a foetal position) with legs and arms bent to a greater or lesser degree towards the ribs

Prone

A burial position where the body is laid out on its front

Supine

A burial position where the body is laid out on its back

General Terms Ante-mortem

Alteration to the body that occurs before before the death of an individual.

Articulation

Area where adjacent bones contact with one another at a joint. In life, the

Carpals

The eight bones of the wrist, which articulate with the metacarpals distally and the ulna and radius proximally.

Cervical vertebrae

The seven bones making up the neck neck region of the vertebral column.

Clavicle

The collar bone.

Condyle

A rounded protuberance that that occurs at the ends of some bones.

Coccyx

Lower most element of the vertebral column column consisting of four rudimentary vertebrae fused to form a triangular bone that articulates with the sacrum.

Cranium

Part of the skeleton that encloses the brain.

Epiphysis ( pl es)

A secondary bone-forming centre attached to a bone and separated from it by cartilage, commonly located at the ends ends of long bones, on the margins of certain

articulation contains cartilage or other brous tissues.

at bones, and at some major tubercles and and processes. After a certain period of development, which differs for each epiphysis, epiphysis, it fuses to the main bone and no further growth occurs at that point. The timing of the fusion of the various epiphyses is one of the methods which is used in the age determination of































Morphology

This term refers to the prominent or principal aspects and outward appearance of an anatomical or skeletal element, its overall shape, structure, colour, pattern etc.

Orbit

The cavity in the skull that contains the eye. eye.

Orbital margin

The bony border that surrounds the orbit.

Patella

The lens-shaped bone that forms the kneecap. kneecap.

Parietal

Either Either of a pair of bones bones forming the top and sides sides of the cranium. cranium.

Pelvis ( pl es)

The bony structure formed by the left and right hip bones, the sacrum and coccyx.

Peri-mortem

Alteration/s to the body that occurs on or around the time of death.

Process

A localised projection, a bony prominence, (eg maxilla).

pl ges) Phalanx ( pl

The bones of the ngers and the toes.

Post-mortem

Alteration/s to the body that occurs after the time of death.

Pubis

Anterior-inferior part of the bony pelvis that approaches the opposite part of the bony pelvis at the midline. mi dline.

Radius

The outer and shorter bone of of the forearm, head head of the radius articulates with the ulna, the distal end articulates with the bones of the wrist and the ulna.

Sacrum

Curved triangular element of the vertebral column consisting of ve fused

the frontal process of the

vertebrae, articulates with the last lumbar vertebrae above, the coccyx below, below, and the hip bones laterally. Scapula ( pl ae)

The shoulder blade.

Sphenoid

A bone forming the base of the cranium behind the eyes. eyes.

Sternum

The breast bone.

Talus Talus

The ankle bone.

































(at the base of a gentle slope), soil texture (almost entirely heavy, ne-grained clay) and land cover variation (within an arable plot, plot, but adjacent to a small woodland). Soil analysis aimed to assess the effect of all these features upon the taphonomy of the burial pits. - To investigate potential differentials in soil conditions between burial pits . Differences in key soil properties (such as drainage) were noted during excavation excavation to exist between between burial pits. A soil sampling strategy was designed with the aim of investigating these differences, differences, both between burial pits pits and against ‘burial-free’ Pit 8. - To assist with speculation speculation upon the potential condition of of human remains further down the stratigraphic sequence in each pit , and thus the potential potential for future excavation/reco excavation/recovery very of remains. With an excavation excavation strategy of burial non-disturbance, spot sample recovery from (especially) lower stratigraphic levels provided an opportunity to extend the reach of the excavation overall. overall. - To add to the overall overall interpretation inter pretation of activity at the Pheasant Wood Wood site . As an integrated geo-archaeological study, study, the soil analysis programme aimed to t o enhance overall archaeological archaeological understanding and interpretation of the site. 12.3.2 Methodology Sampling strategy . A total of sixty-seven spot samples for for soil and deposit analysis analysis were obtained by the author during the evaluation of the burial pit site at Pheasant Wood, Wood, Fromelles. Samples were obtained from each pit containing burials (Pits 1,2,3,4 and 5) and from one ‘burial-free’ pit pit (Pit 8). Excavated Excavated at the same time as the other pits, Pit 8 was not used as a grave pit but left open and empty for approximately two years (Section 7.2) Pit 8 was thus sampled as a ‘control’ for baseline soil condition in the absence of burials.

































The determination of soil organic matter was carried out using the Loss on Ignition method. Here, the air-dried, <2 m m fraction was further oven-dried at 105 oC to ensure ensure complete dryness. Approximately 10g

of each sample was then accurately weighed out into a crucible and placed into a mufe furnace and left

overnight (16hrs) at 375 oC (Ball, 1964). After being left to cool in a dessicator, the samples were then re weighed to determine the t he percentage loss of mass resulting from the ignition of the organic fraction. The long-cool burn scheme was chosen chosen out of caution and the possibility of shell, carbonates and clay fractions being affected were a higher temperature used. Total Total phosphate was determined through the sodium hydroxide hydroxide fusion method, following the procedure given in Smith and Bain (1982). Colorimetric determination of a 5 m l aliquot of the treated sample was was then undertaken using an ammonium molybdate/ascorbic acid reagent, with an allowance of 2 hours for colour development. Standard solutions were were made ranging ranging from 0-10 mg P. P. The absorbance of the standards and and samples was measured in a 40 mm cell at 880 mm. The standards were used to plot a graph of absorbance against relative concentration (mg P), from which the total phosphorus (mg/100g) was calculated for each sample and then converted to total phosphate (P 2O5/P2 = 9141.96/61.96 = x 2.29). 12.3.3

Results (see appendix 12.10 for tabulated results of analyses)

Soil morphology . Field and laboratory examination of the morphology of soils from both backll sequences

and burial contexts showed soil texture to be universally clay to silty clay. clay. Flanders clay is notably ne-grained,

giving it a very low water permeability (Nathanail 2001), and this property was very much in evidence both during poor weather conditions at excavation, excavation, and in the laboratory. laboratory. The waterlogged sample set took an

unusually long time to dry (over three weeks), and clay adhesion was signicant, with dried samples extremely

































Overview : total phosphate . Total P values are generally fairly high to medium throughout, throughout, ranging from 624 – 151 mgP/100g soil. As with soil organic matter, matter, no clear pattern pattern of phosphate increase/decrease increase/decrease emerges

from the pit backll sequences, with uctuations through each prole, and a wide range of values obtained even from what might be expected to be ‘phosphate-rich’ burial burial levels. The potential for this to reect very

localised conditions of preser vation is discussed below; below; however, however, it may also be connected to the particular pH range of the sample set. Whereas in both acid (pH 1-5) and alkaline (pH 7-14) soils phosphorus leaches relatively slowly, in slightly acid conditions (pH 6-7) phosphates are leached quite quickly (Heizer and Cook 1965, 13). With the pH of many of the samples only only a little out of of this ‘danger area’, area’, it is possible that differential leaching may be be a factor in these very varied varied results; however, however, it is also the case that phosphorus phosphorus retention depends upon soil temperature, moisture availability, availability, and the concentration of such minerals as iron, aluminium and calcium, and there is no clear correlation between slightly acid/just alkaline pH and lower phosphate values. values. Unsurprisingly, Unsurprisingly, the notably higher phosphate values (all over 250 m gp/100g soil) are seen adjacent to burial materials. Oddly, Oddly, the pit which stands out as being the most consistently (relatively) (relatively) high in phosphate is control Pit 8 (discussed below). 12.3.5 Pit-by-pit Discussion and Interpretation Interpr etation Pit 8 – Control . Pit 8, located at the eastern end of the site, was one of three pits on the site not used for burial,

and has therefore been been used in this analysis as a control control against the other ve sampled pits (7.4.2). A fairly complex series of backlls are seen, partially the result of erosion and slumping over over the two years that the pit remained open (7.2.3). A vertical series of eleven spot samples through through four lls and into the natural natural subsoil at the base of the excavated area (FR088/01-FR088/11) was therefore unable to take in every identied, although a single sample was taken to the north of the vertical sequence, through notably gritty primary ll

































‘complete total P analysis’ pits, Pit 2 was selected for this as it represents the Pit 2 . The rst of the two ‘complete driest, most free-draining pit sequence, located adjacent adjacent to the woodland woodland edge. With a more degraded series

of deposits than those seen in Pit 1, the entire Pit 2 sample sequence (FR082/01-FR082/10) relates to inll material ([2011] and [1012]) [1012]) with no signicant spot samples of burial material accessed. During excavation, excavation, one reason for Pit 2’s 2’s free-draining status became obvious: the clear network network of both large and small roots extending throughout the pit, breaking up and aerating the clay matrix and facilitating not only drainage, but biological activity (and therefore physical and chemical chemical decomposition of materials and associated chemical movement) in the the form of microscopic soil and root fauna. Most likely as a result result of this altered environment, environment,

the Pit 2 sequence is a more typical expression of an anthropogenically inlled prole, with pH showing a generally steady alkaline signal with a slight decrease down prole which reects the free-draining nature of

the sequence. In the upper levels, levels, however, however, both total P and SOM are notably lower. lower. This is interesting, as it would be assumed that the woodland would be responsible for some input of organic material, but this is

obviously not a key key inuence in itself in terms of organic/phosphatic additions to the pit. Towards and into into the burial layers, P increases sharply, but appears more ‘even’ between between samples, perhaps indicating more of a degree of P-cycling (again, as a result of increased drainage) and therefore a more ‘generalised’ signature for

this prole. Despite improved drainage through the inll and upper burial layers, excavation showed showed the base of Pit 2 to retain standing water, and therefore that no matter what the drainage regime of the pit backlls, the

impermeability of the underlying clay substrate proves a deciding factor for the taphonomy of the Pheasant Wood Wood grave pits. Pit 3. 3. With a far better preserved preserved set of burial-related material, the sample set for Pit 3 is similar to that that seen

at Pit 1, with six samples s amples through ploughsoil and inll sequence [3002]-[3003]-[3006] (FR083/01-FR083/06), and a further four spot samples at various points adjacent to burial materials at the inhumation level [3010]

































further away from surviving organic fragments show comparatively low low total P values and low SOM. Once again, the inhibiting effect of this impermeable clay matrix on chemical cycling and decomposition is seen.

Trench 1, and was notable Pit 5 . The nal pit in the sampled sequence, Pit 5 is located at the southern edge of Trench for its depth, with the position of inhumations such that excavation excavation into a secondary level of burial was

possible. Consequently, Consequently, a more extensive sequence of inll samples was achievable, achievable, with samples FR085/01FR085/09 extending from ploughsoil deposit [1002] down to just above (or possibly slightly into) lower burial matrix deposit [1019]. This sequence provided provided one of the most interesting interesting observations of the analysis. pH through the upper inll sequence gave a predictably alkaline response, but dropped sharply into the upper burial deposit, recovering slightly before becoming increasingly acidic into the lower burial matrix (pH 4.1-4.2). This is surprising, as anaerobic, waterlogged waterlogged environments are generally able to maintain a neutral or slightly alkaline pH. Exceptions to this are environments environments high in organic matter, such as peat bogs (Caple 1994). Although SOM throughout the sample set is generally fairly low (and continues to be be so throughout this Pit 5 sequence, particularly into the lower burial matrix), this and to a cert ain extent the evidence from Pit 4 seems to indicate that as waterlogging increases, the pH of the Pheasant Wood Wood pits may decrease. decrease. This may have implications for the relative relative survival of inhumation materials, with potentially worse worse bone preservation, but correspondingly better organic survival. Once again, total P and SOM of the four samples taken from points within the the upper burial matrix show a high degree of localised variability, variability, with (again) soils from adjacent to well preserved textile/organic materials showing a high P value and slightly higher SOM than those slightly further away from extant burial material. 12.3.5 12.3.5 Conclusions



































effect on bone survival; however, however, the bone bone seen so far in permanently permanently waterlogged contexts (eg Pit 5) appears in reasonable condition. condition. The potential for a slightly changing set of of environmental conditions conditions to be encountered during further excavation should therefore be borne in mind. -Does the analysis add to the overall interpretation of activity at the Pheasant Wood Wood site ? Yes, several features stand out. It is clear that not only the clay matrix, but individual individual burial artefacts also appear to have have acted to arrest decomposition and nutrient leaching, such as the groundsheets in which several of the bodies were wrapped. This may imply that bodies were were fairly thoroughly wrapped, wrapped, rather rather than merely carried, within these coverings. coverings. A fairly hasty, or possibly not particularly organised programme of burial is also perhaps implied by the lack

of a corresponding signicant rise in pH in and around contexts where lime spreading is identied (eg [2013] in Pit 1, possibly [1018] in Pit 5). This appears to indicate that lime spreading was was neither extensive nor nor particularly carefully undertaken.

































m 0 3

7 t i P

8 t i P

) 7 0 0 2 n

0

































12.5 List of Contexts of Contexts Area

Context

Description

Interpretation/Relationships Interpr etation/Relationships

Trench Trench 1 Trench Trench 1

1001 1002

Light grey-brown clay silt Mid grey-brown silty clay

Modern topsoil Post-WWI ploughsoil

Trench Trench 1 Trench Trench 1 Pit 6 -

1004 1005 1006 1007

Light yellow-orange clay Light grey-yellow silty clay Sub-rectangular cut Cancelled

Upper subsoil horizon Lower subsoil horizon horizon Cut for Pit 6 -

Pit 6

Trench Trench 1 Trench Trench 1

1003

1008 1009

Light orange/blue clay

Linear east/west cut Plastic pipe

Backll of Pit 6

Cut for modern eld drain Modern eld drain

































Area

Context

Description

Interpr etation/Relationships

Trench Trench 3

3005

Lower subsoil horizon horizon

Pit 3 Pit 3

3006 3007

Trench Trench 3

3008

Light yellow-orange silty clay, clay, orange gravel Sticky pale blue-grey clay Sub-rectangular cut, sloping N side, vertical S side

Narrow linear NNE/SSW cut

Cut for pre-WWI eld drain

Trench Trench 3

3009

Light orange silty clay, clay, ceramic pipe

Pit 3

3010

Light orange silty clay, clay, blue-grey mottles

Fill of broken pre-WWI Field fragments drain

Body stain around upper burials Cut for grave pit

Lower backll, above lower

burials

































Area

Context

Description


Pit 6

6012

Pit us straight sided on S side. N side

Pit 6

6013

Pit 6 Pit 6

6014

Grey blue clay, clay, quite compact, few inclusions Very compact grey blue clay with quartz fragments Dark grey and orange mottled clay, clay, very compact

Cut of Pit 6. Different to cuts in more sloping, may have slipped (6007) pit 7 & 8, not as much slippage & weathering Undisturbed topsoil in which pit was cut Undisturbed subsoil

6015

Undisturbed subsoil



































Area

Context

Description

Interpr etation/Relationships

































Area

Context

Description


































Find No

Body

Context No

Trench No

Spit No

Pit No

No Pieces

Material

Artefact

































Find No

Body

Context No

Trench No

Spit No

Pit No

No Pieces

Material

Artefact

































Find No

Body

Context No

Trench No

Spit No

Pit No

No Pieces

Material

Artefact

































































































































































































































































































































































































































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