other decay inhibitors or termite preventatives. The post may survive as an element or have decayed (a postpipe), or been removed. Even if decayed there should be a dark organic stain that matches the original dimensions and extent of the post. Posthole fill / Post packing The dug up soil goes back in the hole once the post is in place. Sometimes structural needs require that the hole is also packed with rocks or smaller sticks to keep the post in desired position. Ideally dug out material returns to the pit in its original stratigraphic order but inevitably mixing occurs so that ground layers and posthole layers are distinguishable. Logically not all of the contents of the hole will fit back once the post is emplaced, so remaining soil may be left in a pile or scattered. Postpipe or post mould The decayed buried section of the post that remains in situ. Some archaeologists prefer pipe where it is predominantly still organic material and mould where this has been replaced by sediment. Post void Where a pipe has been removed. This may be uncovered as a cavity, although this is rare and usually a combination of slumping of posthole fill and inwashed deposits fill the position of the post, which is usually termed post mould. Posthole This is the generic term for all of the archaeological evidence contained within the cut, particularly when seen in plan view, including any artefacts that have been introduced during the cutting and filling sequence. Procedure for excavating a posthole To excavate a posthole a series of steps must be taken. First, the postholes are sprayed with water to prevent them from drying out and to make the edges show up more clearly. The postholes then are measured to see where the widest point is (about halfway through). One half of the post hole and part of the surrounding soil is dug out in a rectangular shape until the bottom of the post hole is visible on the wall of the intact half. This wall is the profile wall of the post hole. The post hole is then measured of its width and height and the profile wall is drawn, with important features like rocks or bones being marked. Interpretation of postholes Postholes are different from stake holes in that the cut is dug for the post rather than created by the driving in of