(archaeology)

Evidence of a post (presumably of wood) hole location, discerned during archeological excavation from differences (color, texture, constituents, etc.) of soil in the cavity compared with surrounding matrix soil. The cavity, serving as a mold for the soil and debris (the fill soil) from ambient natural erosion and weathering, became filled over time, indicating the approximate shape of the erstwhile post. - https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/post_mold

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A post mold is a unique archaeological feature (i.e. non-portable artifact) that is first identified as a roughly circular stain in the floor of an excavation unit. The soil color difference can be due to either the decay of the original wood used for the post or to the refilling of the hole left behind after pulling up a post with soil that is different from the surrounding matrix. - https://www.caa-archeology.org/shovels-in-the-dirt/

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Excavators uncovered a tenth-century circular post-mold pattern surrounding a hearth. - https://goo.gl/LqePJ7

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Aerial view of House 1 footprint, showing pit and post mold pattern. - http://archeology.uark.edu/indiansofarkansas/images/3YE25 Ho...

http://archeology.uark.edu/indiansofarkansas/index.html?page...