advantages of archaeological excavation

It is essential to place the role of excavation within context of a broader analytical process because excavation is just another tool in the archaeological kitbag. Engaged Archaeology. Once these early archaeological deposits have been uncovered, the site is ready for the full excavation. So far we have commented up the pros and cons of a variety of survey techniques. can tell us about times long before written records. For the Public. The archaeological benefits of roadwork developments in Scotland is the subject of a new Masters by Research (MRes) project funded by Transport Scotland.. This radar not only detects variation in the composition of the soil which might indicate filled ditches or graves but can also indicate the depth at which variation occurs. It is essentially this phase that distinguishes an archaeological excavation from the pure underwater recovery of ancient artefacts. �N5��*@>хk��~��_��wH1˵�}P�� %V�< What are non-intrusive archaeological survey techniques, and how are they used to archaeological advantages during excavation. None evasive approaches can use, echo sounding, electromagnetic magnetic, metal detectors, electrical resistivity, radioactivity, thermography, geochemical analysis and even dowsing. Excavation provides vertical and horizontal analysis that may otherwise over looked. Greene concludes “proper research programmes are less exciting and more expensive than unplanned exploration, but their results allow much firmer conclusions to be reached about site distributions, settlement patterns and other features of the ancient landscape. Many archaeological sites are surveyed by measuring from a grid enclosing the site. A Magnetometer measures the magnetic properties of the soil and highlights where iron oxide concentrates are higher. Mapping archaeological digs takes plenty of time and a lot of measuring, photographing, drawing and note taking. All these changes in cost, approach and technology have led to or perhaps been partially caused by a new set of archaeological tools. ��ɼ��N/��I�"`Y:8��=Ku?�(�ue�X�-�Ĳԯ-� XI��b+�@�}�a}�l^�$�/J�3�z�-��U��{��fL@�`f� �Q�}��&�B��sv�%�C�=2� One of the principal trends in Mediterranean archaeology is the study of human interaction with the landscape through time. It is also immensely expensive. Issues remain in the ability of individuals who have varying capacity to identify objects, the impact of the natural environment on material culture and the walking resources required. Excavations differ depending on the remains in question. For example it is difficult to tell elevation, age, scale, purpose, sequence and most fundamentally it only records that which is physically visible on the surface. Integrating interpretation with Graphical Information Systems represents a huge advance in presentation and “what if” modelling. Proposition 1: Archaeology as the study of past cultures Archaeological cultures (pre-history) Assemblages and cultures The problem of Analogy The Comparative Project â¦ Most people are wrong. See Rules 26 and 27. This again reduces the reliance upon excavation as a primary analytical tool. Advantages: Archeology has been helping us to understand and to develop our understanding of the culture and life our ancestors for generations. They are not themselves, strictly speaking, archaeological facts: they are the excavatorsâ interpretations of what they saw, or thought they saw, but this is the nearest the discipline can ever get to archaeological facts as established by excavation. 1)Bahn P, Archaeology, A very short introduction. This procedure is described by Renfrew and Bahn as research design. Field walking can be random and or sample based but invariably has some form of structure such as transects to facilitate recording. Items such as pottery, seeds, â¦ In turn, the stratigraphic sequence plays a key role in working out the site's chronology. Early results from the excavations by the University of Cincinnati show that this movement of people and material made an important impact on the livelihoods of the townâs local inhabitants; new foods were consumed, new cultural customs were adopted, and new ideas in architecture were developed. Survey. They continue “the focus has broadened to take in whole landscapes and a surface survey at sites in addition to – or instead of – excavation (3).” So once more the reliance upon excavation as a primary tool is diminished. There are two basic types of context: cut, and fill/deposit. They are not themselves, strictly speaking, archaeological facts: they are the excavatorâs interpretation of what he saw, or thought he saw, but this is the nearest the discipline can ever get to archaeological facts as established by excavation. This helps to answer the hows and the whys of modern archaeology and again helps focus any follow up excavation work. So excavation is not without it’s difficulties. A case study on the Roman town of Wroxeter quoted by Renfew and Bahn uses all these techniques (7). The relative age of a given layer is determined by its relationship to the layers above and below it. As one digs down through the layers at a site, there is the opportunity to document the stratigraphy of the site. Oxford p 12, 2)Greene, K, Archaeology An Introduction (Routledge 2001) p38, 3)Renfrew & Bahn, Archaeology: Theories, Methods and Practice, Thames & Hudson p 116, 4)Renfrew & Bahn, Archaeology: Theories, Methods and Practice, Thames & Hudson p 92, 5)Renfrew & Bahn, Archaeology: Theories, Methods and Practice, Thanes & Hudson p 99, 7) Renfrew & Bahn, Archaeology: Theories, Methods and Practice, Thames & Hudson p 100, 8)Greene, K, Archaeology An Introduction (Routledge 2001) p 77, 10) Greene, K, Archaeology An Introduction (Routledge 2001) p 45, 11)Renfrew & Bahn, Archaeology: Theories, Methods and Practice, Thames & Hudson p 116. The classic surface survey technique is field walking. This can be done either with remote sensing or direct visual observation. So, again some of the requirements for extensive excavation have diminished through the advancement of other analytical techniques and not just surface survey techniques. Many sites have excavation programmes that run over decades. It is after all a very destructive process. Given such a broad approach Archaeology needs a structured research process. Common Misconceptions Methods of Archaeology History of Archaeology Public Role in Archaeology References. Geophysics helps with detailing and focusing of subsequent work. It is impossible to ask valid questions about an individual site without understanding its place in the historical and natural environment”(10). Archaeology permits intensive study of a single culture over time, removing the myth of an unchanging tra-ditional past. In some cases excavation is the only way we can acquire the detailed evidence of smaller objects of material culture and read the story being told by the stratigraphy. We have seen a change in excavation techniques that reflect changes in thought. They continue “the relationship between surface and subsurface is undoubtedly complex ands varies from site to site and it is therefore wise to determine what really is below the ground (4)”. Vertical views can provide a quick overview or mapping capability which is important for context. 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As such aerial photography is considered one of the most important archaeological developments in the 20th century and has contributed to a number of new finds and lines of enquiry. The ability to determine more, from fewer samples again suggests that less excavation is required. MRes archaeology student Asta Pavilionyte. I assume you mean, as compared to other means of investigating the past. This approach can cover large areas which is useful in “regional” analysis and where evidence is likely to be more scattered due to migratory or hunter gather type activity. Patterns can be established and resource requirements calculated. In many cases, we have a reasonable understanding of the surviving material culture. Despite volunteers excavation is highly labour intensive and therefore expensive in terms of costs such as labour, equipment, travel, measuring and monitoring equipment and accommodation. First, water tends to act as something of a preservative, protecting wood and other perishable items. One of the main advantages of the open cut sewer exaction method is that itâs cheaper to implement in non-pavement areas. Originally excavation, whether unplanned, in the form of grave robbing or curiosity, or planned, in the form of a structured approach was the main way in which evidence, knowledge and understanding could be acquired. As Bahn puts it “there have been two major trends over time; first, excavation has become far slower and more painstaking…. Overall landscapes, context, trading patterns and systems are more important than individual sites. Thus it is very useful in pre-historic and not so in Roman and beyond. In common with all major infrastructure â¦ Home. So excavation is good and in many ways the final technique to turn to. This leads to robust project control processes both during the overall project and particularly during excavation. Today, excavation is probably what archaeologists do the least. The dualling of the A9 trunk road between Perth to Inverness has been hailed as one of the largest transport investments in Scotlandâs history. The WheelerâKenyon system involves digging within a series of squares that can vary in size set within a larger grid. These tools need to be overlaid within the archaeological process. But only 1% of the nearly 200 acre site has been excavated. Coles describes 16th century examples as: âany honest effort to understand ancient artifacts by actually working with themâ (Coles, 1979, pp.11-12). Research design has four components, namely; formulation, the collection and recording, processing and analysis and publication. Generally they are an efficient way but care needs to be taken with external influences such as power lines. The WheelerâKenyon method is a method of archaeological excavation. Fieldwork can take place anywhere around the world â and at anytime during the year. And answering these how and why questions implies a much broader scope of work. There is a realisation today that part of archaeology’s role is to ensure that good records and documentation is kept. Technically, this is known as the â¦ Excavation is the only way to acquire ephemeral and environmental evidence. This essay sets out to describe current concerns with excavation, analyse the modern approach to archaeology, discusses a wide range of alternative ‘surface’ exploration techniques, explores the limitations of each approach and concludes by placing excavation in the context of a 21st century approach to archaeology. The technique can be slow and is best used when ditches and pits are being sought as opposed to walls. Such techniques have been used successfully by Hurst Thomas in the USA, Lerici in search of Etruscan tombs and work on the Pyramids. This can help show how many possible layers of settlement there have been. Aerial photography needs to be assisted by other techniques. By â¦ But it may ultimately be the best technique the archaeologist currently has. Archeology has undergone radical changes since the time when an excavation was simply a mining of artifacts. In many cases further excavation would add little to our understanding and preservation in situ is the best option. Archaeologists Travel a Lot You'll gain a lot of stamps in your passport as an archaeologist. As Renfrew and Bahn comment “this technique works particularly well for ditches and pits in chalk and gravel”(5). As the questions currently posed by Archaeologists tend to be more ‘strategic’ the focus of the field work is also of a strategic nature. The Role of Geographical Information Systems and Documentation When an archeologist documents a find, he/she considers both vertical and horizontal relationships. As Renfrew and Bahn surmise “Today archaeologists study whole regions”. 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