A large termite mound is situated in an Iron Age burial ground near Salisbury, Rhodesia. The soil within the mound is medium textured, alkaline in reaction, and relatively rich in extractable bases, organic C, mineral N and available P. Soils outside the termite mound are coarse textured, acid in reaction, and low in bases, organic C and plant nutrients. Bush-Boskop skeletons were preserved in the alkaline environment of the termite mound and completely dissolved in the acid soil surrounding the termite mound. The alkaline termite mound has therefore existed for at least as long as the burials (about 700 years).