I can assure you surface compaction is still a thing. Never seen sheep's foot rollers, but I have seen really big square rollers. A square doesn't roll very well, but that is the point: every tumble it makes it crashes into to soil. Problem is it is extremely uncomfortably for the operator, even if pulled by a really big tractor. These rollers are called impact rollers.
Also in use are rapid impact compactors, basically a crane pounding away. Vibro compaction, where 30m long vibrating needles are driven into to soil. And best of all, Dynamic impact compaction: lift a big chunk of concrete 50m in the air and let it free fall. Then do it again and again... See https://vimeo.com/415927984 @ 3:15
Also in use are rapid impact compactors, basically a crane pounding away. Vibro compaction, where 30m long vibrating needles are driven into to soil. And best of all, Dynamic impact compaction: lift a big chunk of concrete 50m in the air and let it free fall. Then do it again and again... See https://vimeo.com/415927984 @ 3:15