Archaeology Can You Dig It?

Origins The process of digging up the past has been around for centuries. The actual scientific process we call archaeology is relatively new. As far back as the 1700s wealthy people would pay money for classical treasures. Pompeii – was discovered in 1709 and was immediately set upon by treasure hunters. But they were interested in sculptures and gold, not cultural relics that offered insight into typical Roman life.  Found “pockets” of air which turned out to be moulds of victims from the volcanic eruption Egypt – Europeans in the early 1800s renewed their interest in ancient Egypt during the Napoleonic Wars. This started off a wave of tomb robbing with even the bodies removed.  This destroyed a lot of information that could have been gathered as well as desecrating the remains of the dead. By the end of the 1800s, amateur archaeology was common as scientists used private money to go on expeditions. The first to approach the business was the man who discovered King Tut’s Tomb. Howard Carter was a strong advocate of a slow measured process to examine, remove and preserve what was discovered. By the mid 1900s, new technologies as well as professional training in universities helped establish modern archaeological methods.

Process Most excavations start off with solid research Archives, primary secondary sources Serve to help archaeologists understand what they are looking for as well as where it might be. Test Pits When a location is not positively known the archaeologist might start off with small pits to verify location. Mapping Once a site has been determined archaeologists will grid the area so that exact measurements of the excavation can be made and location of artefacts cited with precision Digging The soil is removed layers at a time. When a new layer is encountered it is recorded and numbered for the stratigraphic profile Items from that soil level are collected and kept together for cataloguing Larger objects or features maybe photographed in place before being removed. Cataloguing Items are cleaned in water before being labelled Each item is given a number which provides all the information about its origins. Analysis Once the excavation is over, the material from the dig (photos, artefacts, and records) are examined to then create hypotheses about the people who left the evidence behind.

Where to Dig Archaeologists use a number of techniques to determine where to go. Aerial Photos

What to Look For Objects underground can affect the growth of plants and vegetation and so are great resources.

A Slow Process Unlike Indiana Jones, the process of excavation is slow and methodical. It is important to follow the stratigraphy of the site. That means removing the layers of dirt in a set pattern or process. This helps the Archaeologist determine dates and significance to items found within that layer.

What can be learned Things like garbage pits or Middens or latrines tell us a lot. They offer a glimpse into the daily lives of people. Diet Everyday items Ruins tell us about what as well as how things were made. Tool marks Physical remains can tell us about the health of people prior to or at the time of death. This has become a sensitive issue as some cultures resent the intrusion and desecration of their ancestors.