<p>A method for constructing a compacted column in a mass of soil comprising the steps of : compacting particulate material (10) into the soil (12) by imparting vertical force onto a driving formation (14) in a number of controlled, rapidly successive blows while the driving formation remains in constant contact with the particulate (10) and whereby a generally elongate cavity (16) is defined in the soil above the compacted material; back-filling the elongate cavity with particulate material and repeating the steps of back-filling and compacting the particulate into the soil until the material has been driven to a predetermined depth, thereby defining a column (18) within the soil.</p>
