Archaeological Method
By Christine, Katie, Melissa, and Richenda
Before
Before a dig, it's important to do research on your excavation site. First, find some documents (such as pictures, diaries, maps, etc.) that relate to the site. Study the documents closely, because they help to know roughly what you might find when your digging.
Still before you actually start digging, you can use technology to make sure there's something in the ground worth looking for. Some of the things you may be able to use are: metal detectors, ground penetrating radar, and aerial photography. Metal detectors and radar detect whether there are metals and other disturbances in the earth. Aerial photography is used to see strange formations in the ground.
Don't forget to collect all the equipment needed for the dig to begin.
During
During the excavation, the first step is to measure out your unit. Once you have your unit measured out, you have to hammer in your nails at the four points. Then, wrap the string around the four nails to make a rectangle or a square. The next step is to dig out the top layer of your unit; about 2-3 inches deep. Then you are ready to start digging. To start digging, you need a trowel. Once you've been digging for a bit, you will to sweep up your dirt. You do this by, taking a whisk and sweeping the dirt up into a pile, then sweeping it into a dustpan, and then dumping it into a bucket. You continue doing this until your bucket is full. Once it is a full, you will have to carry it to the sifting pile. Once you are there, you will have to dump the dirt onto the sift, then spread it around evenly. After that, you will shake it back and forth until all the dirt is through the holes in the screen. The next step is to run your hands through whatever's left, and check for any artifacts. Once you think you are done, you will dump the dirt off of the sift, and take your artifacts back to your unit, and put your artifacts into your artifact bag. Then you are ready to start digging for more artifacts! Don't forget to keep the walls of your unit straight and the bottom level.
Materials
The materials you will need for your dig are:
- measuring tape (to measure out your unit)
- 4 nails
- string
- shovel
- trowel
- dustpan
- whisk
- bucket
- sieve
- artifact bag
Also make sure you bring some water, hat and sunscreen! It can be hot out there!
After
After the excavation the artifacts needs to be sorted and washed. They have to be sorted into piles: dry wash and wet washed. Dry washed items are just brushed off. These items include metal, brick etc. Wet wash items include bone, glass, pottery etc. After the artifacts are sorted and washed they are inventoried. The process is done by applying clear nail polish to the single artifact and writing the Borden number then covering it up with more clear nail polish. If there are pieces that need to be reconstructed this is when to do that, then record the numbers. The artifacts are only part of the end process. The archaeologists that preformed the excavation must write a report that includes everything they did during the dig: field photos and notes etc. Many other things need to be done to the artifacts and the report, what we have done just skims the surface of what real archaeologists do in a real excavation.