Archaeological Vacations
Lesson 3: Basic Archaeological Method
How do archaeologists excavate? What do archaeologists do when they find an artifact or feature? What clothing and equipment do archaeologists need?
In this Lesson, you will learn basic archaeological types and methods of excavation as well as general instructions on recording artifacts and features.
Field Methods
Excavation is not the only aspect of archaeological fieldwork. There are several archaeological methods: Survey, Shovel Testing, Backhoe Testing, and Excavation.
- Survey is a purposeful extensive walkover and search for artifacts on the surface in a certain area. Often erosion uncovers a few artifacts on the surface giving archaeologists clues on what lies beneath the ground.
- Shovel Testing requires the digging of small excavation units in areas where sites are likely. If these tests locate artifacts, further testing or excavation will occur.
- Backhoe Testing is similar to shovel testing except that shovel testing is undertaken with a shovel and a backhoe test is undertaken with large machinery such as a backhoe or trackhoe. These machines dig up to six meters below the surface to find sites usually too deep for a person to dig safely.
- Excavation in basic terms is digging. Excavation is undertaken in excavation units. Dirt and artifacts are unearthed and recorded centimeter by centimeter using trowels, picks, ice picks, brushes, and shovels. Spoil dirt is then poured through a fine mesh screen to find smaller or missed artifacts.
If you are volunteering for archaeological fieldwork you will most likely be excavating. However, some field schools include other methods of fieldwork such as survey and shovel testing.
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