Skills for archaeological sites

Question 1

Core skills: site grid and trench layout

Answer 1

• At a tangent, e.g. 45 degrees (useful bc buildings could be in North/South alignment - lines of interference)
• Laying out with tapes
• For a 10 x 10 m2, the hypotenuse of the triange is 14.142m (Pythagoras’ theorem)

Question 2

Core skills: Stratigraphic excavation

Answer 2

• Single context methodology
• Samples: sediment, faunal, botanicak
• Really important to keep a good understanding of stratigraphy and what is coming from where
• Link everything back to its context

Question 3

Core skills: Dumpy level/total station and staff

Answer 3

• Fixed point/benchmark
• Levelling the equipment
• Recording daily height of the machine
• Backsight to fixed point
• Reading levels from staff
• Keeping the staff vertical during use

Question 4

Core skills: Fixed points

Answer 4

• Setting fixed points in concrete
• Taking reading using differential GPS
• Using these to backsight against

Question 5

Core skills: Section drawing

Answer 5

• Tie in with nails and take total station reading on nails
• Set grids or lines to take measurements; note these on your drawing
• Often useful for one person to take the meaurement and one to plot the points

Question 6

Secondary skills: Setting up total station

Answer 6

• Set up at a suitable and safe height for those using it
• Set legs wide enough to be stable
• Set orientation and backight to known fixed point or other station

Question 7

Total sation safety

Answer 7

• Put the machine on the tripod with the lens in an upright position for safety of the machine, and return to that position when you leave the machine
• Keep the case closed/locked when not in use
• Use a sun/rain cover when appropriate
• Take the machine down if it gets windy or rainy

Question 8

Secondary skills: Geophysics

Answer 8

• Clearing the site prior to survey
• Avoiding/being aware of any modern magnetic features in the area - causes disturbance in results
  Survey results:
• Data accuracy on cart linked to Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS)

Question 9

GPR: Ground Penetrating Radar: Magnetic survey

Answer 9

• With your in-country representative, speak with the landworker before starting any work
• Consider where you are going to charge your battery
• If the weather if hot, keep the machine under a sunshade and/or only use during the cooler times of the day
• Think about electiricty sources for your computer and equipment

Question 10

Geomagnetic survey - Fluxgate Magnetometer

Answer 10

• Data collected every 0.5 miles
• Need to clear the work area/terrain, e.g. if in Egypt halfa grass must be removed

Question 11

Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT)

Answer 11

• Ensure that your proves maintain the required distance apart during each transect
• If in a village, choose long streets
• A certain level of moisture is needed for conductivity

Question 12

Working in different natural environments and cultural environments

Answer 12

• Additional elements: case studies, aspects of legislation, working with in-country collaborators
• Projects in countries with different cultures: local customs, beliefs, politics, and importance of awareness
• There are specific permissions to work anywhere in the world, and there will be certain terms of work so be mindful, your excavation director should advise you ahead of the project

Question 13

Environmental sampling - hand augers

Answer 13

• First: check there are no power lines/other obstacles directly above
• Get permission to auger in the area
• Keep the auger vertical when drilling down
• On extraction - make sure there are sufficient people to extract, do not strain yourself, it is not a competition of strength
• Label/write on the tray with the auger number and depth
• After extracting your sample, scrape down the auger head and clean before the next sample

Question 14

Environmental sampling: mechanical drilling

Answer 14

• The drilling machine inserts 1m long metal tubes, it is far better to extract these in the lab to avoid contamination
• Continuous coring allows for more control and less disturbance within extracted material
• Value of collaborations with specialists in-country

Question 15

Kite Aerial Photography: KAP

Answer 15

• Make sure you’re a safe distance from overhead obstacles/power cables
• Need to know the length of the kite reel and the boundary of movement
• Do you have permission to conduct this type of work in country?
• The kite can pull with incredible force if caught by the wind
• Wear thick gloves and have folding pocket knife/scissors to hand if the line needs to be cut
• Use a suitable camera in a cradle either on video, or operated remotely to capture single frames