around the outer 1–2 mm, which was seen to be an effect of degradation by
soft rot fungi, which are known to require oxygen for their respiration. Finds
in the lower find layer did not show signs of soft rot and only signs of deteri-
oration characteristic of erosion bacteria, indicating that these artefacts had
been quickly incorporated into an anoxic environment. However, in combin-
ation with the physical and chemical analysis and environmental monitoring
results, it is unlikely that the artefacts will degrade further as long as the envir-
onment remains stable. Microscopic analysis with polarising light showed
that in all artefacts, regardless of their spatial position in the site, the secondary
In-situ Preservation of Waterlogged Archaeological Sites 321
Figure 5Ash spear shafts from the find layers in Nydam. A shows fragments of an ash-spear
shaft from the upper find layer with a typically gnarled surface. B is of an ash-spear
shaft from the lower find layer with runic style markings well preserved on the surface