Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Research the dig location. It's hardly advantageous to just start digging. Certainly, many archeological finds have been discovered by someone stumbling upon an important artifact, but the proper way to begin a dig is by researching what types of artifacts may be present in the site.
Begin by understanding local history -- what does an archeologist expect to find in a given region. Many North American digs are focused on Native American society, and the artifacts associated with that culture could be arrowheads, pottery or cooking utensils. Be aware that most ancient cultures used the natural things present in their environment as household items. For instance, a chipped rock could very well be an axe head or scraping utensil.
Mark off the area of the dig using stakes or markers. Once the location has been determined, it is important to set up a system for mapping. Finding ancient artifacts is fun and interesting, but relatively useless to the scientific community if there is no data regarding location associated with it.
Delineate lines north and south, east and west using a compass and divide the site into equal parts. How many parts will be determined by the size of the dig area. Tie string or rope and stretch it from stake to stake to cordon off the area and create a grid system that will be easy to map on paper. Use this grid to draw a map, including static landmarks such as trees or buildings close to the site.
Excavate the site. Digging should be done patiently and with care. It is very easy to destroy the items that are scientifically valuable. Start by removing sod, grass and topsoil using a small shovel or pick to methodically break the ground, starting in one corner of the site and working out into the grid. Excavated dirt should be put into a sifting tray, which will be used to separate artifacts from the sediments and rocks. If the ground is hard packed or rock, try using a rock hammer to break away bits for examination. It is also useful to have a brush handy to remove debris without damaging the items.
Mark the locations of artifacts in the site with stakes or flags. Using the map created during setup, identify the locations of the flags or artifacts on the map with points or graphics. The grid system developed when marking out the site will help pinpoint where each item should be on the map.
It is also important to note how deep the artifact is. If there are layers of soil, clay or rock, note the material that the artifact came out of and provide a measurement of how deep each layer is and how deep the artifact was located.
Clean and identify any artifacts that you find. After compiling the collection, take time to clean each piece, removing dirt and dust gently using a stiff-bristled brush. Be careful using water, or solvents as the may damage or destroy delicate objects.
Identification may prove more difficult if the history of the area is not well known. Use resources such as library collections or local experts who may have knowledge of the area's archeological data. Archeology clubs and even colleges and universities may have collections or lithographs for comparison.