How Archaeologists Work


Giving Advice - Before any excavation can begin there has to be lots of planning, discussion and research. (34kb) David researching maps and documents - very important before any excavation begins. (50kb) Field Walking - Sometimes finds are on the surface. Pieces of pot may have been revealed by ploughing. (65kb) Machines used to dig trenches - they remove the top soil. (28kb) Excavating a trench - after the digger Archaeologists move in to start the cleaning process. (36kb)
Trowelling - carefully removing the soil in search of delicate artefacts. (46kb) Recording the position of finds - a permanent record is very important, and can give vital clues for identification etc.. (28kb) The Sieving - Sometimes the finds are so small they can only be sorted by sieving the soil away and adding water to what remains in the sieve. Light plant material floats on the surface and can be investigated further under a microscope. (31kb) School children washing finds - Here school children are taught by Malcolm how to clean finds carefully so that they are not damaged. (45kb)
Using a microscope to look at plant material - Seeds and small fragments of bone can be so small that a microscope is needed to identify them. (34kb) The excavation at Deansway, Worcester - The excavation at Deansway Worcester, with some of the archaeological team at work. (69kb)      


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