Soil function: cultural and archaeological heritage

Soil function: Preserving cultural and archaeological heritage

Soils are a repository of environment and cultural information.  Soils preserve the record of paleo-environmental and past climates in the depth of millennium old peat deposits.  Soils hold in their properties and structure the imprints of historical and pre-historical record of human activities (e.g. plaggen soil).

The nature of soils also underpinned the character of our historical landscape.  Many valued habitats are actually relic of historical landscape and land management practices (grassed woodland, machairs).

Threats to soil function as defined in the Scottish Soil Framework

Major effect

• Climate change: Increased risk of soil erosion leading to exposure of artefacts; and loss of microscopic information from the soil matrix.
• Sealing

Minor effect

• Loss of organic matter
• Acidification and eutrophication
• Soil erosion
• Compaction and structural damage

Minor effect but locally important

• Salinisation

No effect

• Loss of biodiversity
• Contamination
• Pesticides