Around here the preferred method of setting poles in the ground for buildings was to set them into stone cairns.

Basically they would dig a hole a little deeper and larger around than the pole, then put one large flat stone in the bottom of the hole and some very small stones (gravel today) on top and stand the pole on that, then backfill around the pole with small stones, gravel and sand.

The idea was to create an area of very good drainage around the pole. If the pole stays dry it won't rot.

It would never fly today, but it used to VERY common for people to dispose of their used motor oil by pouring it around the base of all the poles, it soaked into the wood and saturated the soil making them water-proof.

Best of luck.

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