Oxfordshire Woodland Group

When large trees get blown over they create a mound and depression in the landscape which in due course will melt down but not completely disappear from the landscape.

This is a typical feature that will be found in ancient woodland.

The upturned earth will also provide clues as to former use of the landscape. For ewxample the flint components in the root plate feature mainly broken flint fragments rather than rounded nodular forms that are found lower down in the soil strata where no damage has occurred either by ploughing or surface mining and knapping for flint building materials.

Pigs are very good at turning over and clearing the surface of vegetation for collection and working of suitable flints.

Ref :- WESSELS, T., 1997. Reading the Forested Landscape. Woodstock, VT: The Countryman Press.