Archeology in the Field (cont.)

 

Introductory text....blah blah blah

 

Once the plowzone soil has been removed, the maps made during the initial survey of the site to revisit the exact location--within only a foot or two--of finds made on the surface to learn what lies beneath them.

 

 

Here students continue to map the features of the site before serious excavation begins.

 

When all of the mapping is done, archeologists and their assistants get down to the most labor-intensive part of their work...the actual digging.

While not absolutely vital for archeological purposes, the presence of a dog or two helps keep things interesting.

 

It gets hot in Illinois in the summers...and, despite even the most diligent prevention efforts, archeologists get sunburned as they excavate.

 

Not all artifacts are found in the initial excavations. Small pieces are easy to miss. Here students screen soil through a 1/4 inch wire mesh to help them locate small artifacts...and a lot of rocks and pebbles.

 

Continue with the Photo Essay.

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   Department of Anthropology
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