How are archaeological digs conducted (tools, team members, etc)?

Question

I'm interested in learning anthing I can about how an archaological dig is carried out:

1) What tools are used?

2) When an artifact is found, how is it extracted?

3) Who make up the dig teams? (students working under archaeologist, ec)

4) On remote digs how do the team members live? (tents, dining, etc)

5) Is there a certain method to beginning and executing the dig? (digging trenches, etc)

Any other info greatly appreciated

Answer 1

1. There are many tools used, the trowel is your right hand though. We also use whisk brooms, dust pans, toothbrushes, sifters flat edge shovels.

2. When an artifact is found, the depth is measured, the soil analyzed, and photographs and detailed drawing in grids are done. It is removed and bagged site unit, depth and date, and signed

3. There is a main archaeologist or archaeologist of record, a field supervisor, and field technicians

4. Ahh the remote digs, most often tents, very much like a camping trip.

5. The first thing that is done is a complete grid system is laid out, surveying etc, starting with a base line. Then you do shovel tests usually every 20 meters to determine boundries and context. You dig down to what we call sterile soil, sifting and documenting every 10 cm. Then when the grid is established then you can do your units, usually based on the shovel tests units. There are trench coffin units and others based on the area you are researching.

Its wonderful work, but very methodical and very hard to explain in such a short story here....Every dig is different, and every context is different. I did forget the most important things when digging, a hat, bug spray, garden gloves and a couple rolls of toliet paper.

Answer 2

ditto for what Lorie said above....she covered most everything you asked.

Answer 3

1) What tools are used?

The most common tool is a trowel. Marshall town is the preferred band.

Rulers and measuring devices

string

nails

dustpans

buckets

Shovels

Surveying equipment tripod, measuring stick, etc.

Forms, forms and more forms

pencils, pens, sharpies

plastic bags in different sizes

aluminum foil for carbon 14 material

dental picks, chopsticks, toothpicks

Compass

GPS, Radios, maps

pin flags

2) When an artifact is found, how is it extracted?

It's often "pedestaled" You excavate around it leaving it on it's own column of dirt. When you reach level you return to it, measure depth, location, angle pitch, ventral or dorsal side (if a stone point or tool) Photograph it, draw it in on the form, prepare the bag and finally extract it.

3) Who make up the dig teams? (students working under archaeologist, ec)

There's an archaeologist in charge, students in college archeology courses do most of the digging. Certain programs such as "Passport In Time" (www.passportintime.com) have volunteers that come to work the digs, Often the volunteer have many years experiance and extensive skills.

4) On remote digs how do the team members live? (tents, dining, etc)

Mostly it's "bring your own tent" Food maybe be provided by the organization, bought as a group or "bring your own." Sometimes there's barracks type lodging and cooking facilities but mostly it's camp stoves. Washing often is done with solar heated showers

5) Is there a certain method to beginning and executing the dig? (digging trenches, etc)

You set a datum point for the dig. This is often a rebar set in concrete. It's location and elevation is known exactly as all measurements are run off of it. It must be located off the site where you think the artifacts are.

From the datum point a grid of 1x1 meter squares is plotted. these each have a unique numbering system. First number is usually how far north or south from the datum point you are, then how far east or west. This is much the same way you read maps and find locations on maps. As example, you might be digging in a 1 by 1 meter pit numbered S20 E10. That would make it 20 meters to the south of the datum point and 10 meters east. You'd then make measurements inside the pit.

Prior to the dig, there's been a survey where people have just walked the site looking for stuff on the surface. This gets plotted on a map. I worked one dig where we pit a pin flag at each artifact and someone plotted it using an accurate GPS unit. A night they downloaded the GPS and printed out a map showing where stuff was.

A shovel test pit might be dug, this "should be" off a grid but could be just where the artifacts were found. That gives you an idea where stuff is.

The dig is conducted locating pits where the most artifacts are and spreading out to see the extent of the site.

As archeology destroys the site collecting all the information is vital. Each hour spent in the filed is matched by an hour or more working in the lab. Computers can now accurately map a site and can show in three dimensions where each artifact was found.

You can go to the website below. On the 'related links page you'll be able to see digs that were conducted.