Efforts to preserve historic earthworks at American Civil War sites may be compromised when management practices do not actively respect soil stability, a critical component of soil quality. In response, this study investigates the relationship between earthwork management practices, soil disturbance levels, and soil quality at New Bern Battlefield Park (NBBP) in New Bern, North Carolina. Four primary soil functions and nineteen associated indicators are organized within a modified soil quality index (SQI) adapted from Davidson and Wilson (2006) and Lenka and colleagues (2022). The SQI translates disparate indicator values into a unitless soil quality score ranging from 0.0 (very low soil quality) to 1.0 (very high soil quality). Soil samples (n = 39) collected from the earthworks, adjacent forest floor, and dominant soil groups across NBBP yielded a comprehensive SQI score of 0.69, indicating moderate to high soil quality. Individual SQI scores ranged from 0.50 to 0.84. Disturbance levels demonstrate a weak relationship with soil quality, whereas management techniques may be more influential in soil quality outcomes. The greatest threats to soil quality at NBBP appear to be micronutrient deficiencies and high acidity levels, but the majority of indicators fall within critical limits. Minimal changes are recommended to NBBP's management framework as a result. However, the site could benefit from implementing stricter policies and physical barriers that prevent visitors from interfering with earthworks. These findings may also inform management approaches at other small-scale historic sites in the Atlantic Coast Flatwoods region of the United States.
