This volume of selected papers by ProfessorA W Skempton is published to mark his 70thbirthday on 4th June 1984.In making the selection of papers we aimed to show Skemptons breadthof interest and achievement int he general field ofsoilmechanics and to include papers that the practising engineer, research worker and student will find of value to have to hand. For the early papers the selection was influenced bya historical interest in addition to intrinsic merit.