Science Fair Project Encyclopedia In archaeology a postpipe (or
post pipe) is the term given to the remains of an upright timber
placed in a posthole. Given the right conditions, timbers may
survive over long periods of time and a recovered postpipe can
simply be of solid wood. Under less preservative conditions
however, only a dark circular stain of organic material may be
left in the fill of the posthole observable in plan and section.
This differs in consistency from the less organic backfill of
the posthole and can be identified simply through this change in
make-up. The size and depth and of the postpipe can provide
information as to any reuse of the posthole especially if
several different postpipes can be identified. They can also
indicate the species of wood used and help suggest the nature of
the structure that the timber once supported. The contents of
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