Step 3: Excavation
More About Step 3:
Archaeology:" A Step-by-Step Process
A Case Study: Excavations at the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary ShopClick on portions of the image to learn more about the archaeological process.
The basic tool for digging is the pointing trowel, the same type of trowel bricklayers or masons use. The trowel is carefully and evenly scraped across the surface of the excavation area so that artifacts are uncovered and soil changes are easily noted.
This chart provides a standard name for soil colors so that soil at the sites and others can be compared.
Pin with tag and direction on it
The corner of each square is marked with a tag so that the archaeologists can take measurements to record the findings from the square.
An artifact is any item made or modified by humans. Artifacts can be ceramics, glass, bone, metal or even stone.
Soil is deposited in a bucket and then carried to the screens.
All the soil that is excavated is sifted through a screen or 1/4 inch mesh to be certain that all the srtifacts or cultural material has be recovered.
All artifacts collected from a provenience are placed in their own bag and carefully labeled so that interpretation and analysis of the site may be done following excavation.
A Pictorial Guide To The Five Step Process:
