an improved method and apparatus for constructing a soil reinforced earthen retaining wall wherein successive soil reinforcing mats embedded within an earthen formation have bent - up face elements which are slidably engaged to enable the earthen formation to settle without bulging the face elements . backing mats are disposed behind the face elements for movement relative thereto in generally vertical planes . the backing mats serve to support the successive soil reinforcing mats and permit the mats to more toward one another to accommodate settling of the formation without bulging of the face elements .