The addition of composted greenwaste (CGW) into soil-forming materials during land reclamation may improve tree growth, alleviate certain negative soil properties and provide an effective waste management solution. CGW addition may also assist the establishment of sustainable earthworm populations, which in turn can further aid soil development through their burrowing and feeding activities. Despite these potentially mutual benefits, little research exists into CGW and earthworm interactions with trees on reclaimed land, and the aim of this thesis was to investigate such interactions. A large-scale field experiment and a nursery-based mesocosm experiment revealed the responses of the tree species Italian alder (Alnus cordata) and Norway maple (Acer platanoides) to CGW and earthworm addition in reclaimed soil. Findings revealed a synergistic effect of CGW addition and earthworm activity leading to significantly greater A. cordata and A. platanoides growth. CGW addition significantly increased levels of soil organic carbon and essential plant macro-nutrients, with earthworm activity increasing the accumulation of organic carbon into reclaimed soils. Additional laboratory-based research revealed the performance of four common UK earthworm species in reclaimed soil, and demonstrated that CGW can support earthworm establishment, and that the earthworms Aporrectodea longa and Allolobophora chlorotica are particularly suitable candidates for inoculation to reclaimed soil. These two earthworm species showed a preference for the foliar material of A. cordata over A. platanoides, but after two weeks, microbial degradation of leaf litter increased A. platanoides leaf palatability to these earthworms. These two tree species may therefore be capable of supporting earthworm populations on reclaimed landfill. A survey of a newly reclaimed site showed that natural colonisation of reclaimed land by earthworms can occur rapidly (within 2 years), where soil quality is sufficient and legacy soil materials are stockpiled and applied following best practice guidance. The studies in this thesis demonstrate methods for effectively improving woodland establishment and soil quality on reclaimed landfill, through CGW application and earthworm activity promoting soil development and encouraging tree growth.

Research Imperative: This project describes an observation-based protocol to rapidly assess skeletonised human remains. Up to 60% of British museums are unaware of the quality and quantity of their holdings; almost all lack databases. Thousands of remains are disturbed annually during commercial and private development, but funding, time and skills rarely align to provide basic assessments, a true impediment to research. Several well-known collections are examined repeatedly, with others under-studied or inspected randomly; data accumulates haphazardly as scholars research specific questions. A rapid assessment system is needed. Aims: This ‘Rapid Assessment System’ (RAS) aims to capture information using affordable and available resources: curators, students and volunteers. RAS answer sheets offer multiple options using non-specialist language. In this way, basic data about a skeleton can be collected. Methods: Volunteers without osteological training were provided with RAS answer sheets and specimen skeletons to examine. Observations were ‘correct’ when in agreement with the author. The RAS was divided into an Inventory segment, assessing presence, absence and condition of skeletal elements, and assessing traits associated with age and sex; and a Paleopathology segment assessing normal and abnormal appearance of teeth and bones. In Winchester, 37 volunteers (undergraduates, semi-retired amateur archaeologists) trialed the RAS over three weekly two-hour sessions, with 22 volunteers assessing at least three skeletons: 91 RAS answer sheets were analysed. Results: Pooling results for all three weeks, volunteers were correct 70.4% of the time for Inventory, and 75.3% of the time in the third week. Paleopathology results were mixed: some participants attained 85.2% correct, others less than 10%. Overall condition of remains, a primary assessment recommended by English Heritage enjoyed 90% success (score of 81 from 91 forms). Assessing skull condition was correct 96.2% (87.5/91). Differentiating between ‘robust’, ‘gracile’ and ‘moderate’ long bones was 79.7% effective (72.5/91); recognising tooth wear (none, mild, moderate) accomplished 78.6% (71.5/91). Robusticity and dental wear inform on estimations of sex and age at death. Implications: Basic data can be accurately amassed by novices. Two separate forms are proposed: Inventory for general use; complex Paleopathology assessments for workers with some training or considerable patience. The Paleopathology segment can act as an aid for early-stage researchers and students and help them avoid missing out observations when examining large collections. The RAS can be tailored to assess specific diseases such as leprosy or tuberculosis. Future versions should utilise electronic formats to simplify processing. If adopted by commercial firms, universities and museums, data can be captured, permitting information to be shared, and reducing handling of these delicate, poignant and unique ‘artefacts’.

Hedeby Hochburg, borgen i Hedeby, har fått förhållandevis lite uppmärksamhet, jämfört med själva samhället i Hedeby. Utgrävningen från 2012 har dock väckt ett intresse, med ett antal frågor som behöver besvaras. I denna uppsats analyseras jordprover som samlats under utgrävningen, för att se om de kan visa något om den kronologiska relationen mellan borgvallen och gravarna i borgen. Tre metoder användes, FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), röntgendiffraktion (XRD) och röntgenfluorescens (XRF). Resultaten från XRF och XRD visar på en rumslig relation mellan minst en av vallens konstruktionsfaser och nedsänkningen i ett lager innanför vallen. Relationen med gravarna är inte tydlig än, och analysen gav inga kronologiska ledtrådar. Resultatet kan användas som hypotes för vidare prövning i framti