Historic dirt surfaces

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    author.

Most roads, footpaths, and many other areas in historic and
archaeological sites have been unpaved dirt surfaces.  In many sites
those surfaces have been replaced by different types of pavement,
most frequently concrete or blacktop, to provide better access for
visitors (and to be ADA compliant), reduce erosion, dust and mud
development, and reduce necessary maintenance work.  Often this is
an unsatisfactory solution since the modern pavement can change the
whole character of a site.

Two alternate approaches have been used occasionally:

    *   chemical consolidation of existing dirt surfaces

    *   pavements that simulate the appearance of dirt surfaces

For a non-profit client, under contract from the NCPTT, I am
presently undertaking research into the current practices and
experiences in the use of consolidated or simulated dirt surfaces
with the goal of developing a testing and evaluation program for the
most promising consolidation or surfacing materials.

I would like to hear about the different approaches and materials
colleagues have been taken and about their experiences with respect
to appearance, strength, durability, maintenance requirements,
installation cost, performance under hot, cold, dry, and wet
conditions, etc.  Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Please reply off-list to fdp [at] aol__com. After completion of the
project a summary of the findings will be posted to the list.

Frank D. Preusser
Frank Preusser & Associates, Inc.
6434 Pat Avenue
West Hills, CA 91307
818-348-0481
Fax: 818-348-1764

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 13:3
                  Distributed: Thursday, June 24, 1999
                        Message Id: cdl-13-3-008
                                  ***