Hobbies And Interests
Research
Extensive research is necessary for selection of the most promising sites and the best areas to excavate within a site. Archaeologists need to know, prior to excavation, as much as possible about the culture that inhabited the area. Modern archaeology aims at answering questions about past cultures or areas through the excavation of information. Artifacts, fossils or soil samples can provide information about the past that is key in formulating theories of history.
Excavation
An archaeological site is surveyed before excavation to designate the size and placement of separate digs. The site is often marked in a grid pattern for digging rectangular areas; however, some excavations use a system of sampling trenches. Based on research, a team of archaeologists excavates sites presumed to contain artifacts, structures or fossils. The initial digging may be performed by human labor or machinery; however, when artifacts are found or a historically significant depth is reached, the digging is performed more delicately. Hand-shovels, picks and toothbrushes are commonly used for separating significant objects from the surrounding rock or soil. Excavated soil is sifted through screens, which reveals fragments that might otherwise have been missed.
Dating
Dating excavated objects is a tricky process and often fraught with controversy. There are many dating methods, some being less exact than others. Carbon dating, which measures the amount of carbon-14 present in a sample, is one of the most accurate forms of dating, but can date only organic compounds. Dating is also possible by identifying the geologic layer in which an artifact is found. Some objects are dated by things found near them that are assumed to belong to the same time period. Archaeologists also pay close attention to a site's stratigraphy, or the patterns of soil layers that covered the artifact or feature. The patterns can help archaeologists identify past geological processes and weather patterns. A discovery's context within the layers can indicate its age. Dendrochronology is a form of dating which uses the number of concentric rings within a tree to assess age.
Data Analysis and Processing
Any data collected from an excavated site, such as artifacts, features or geological evidence, is an important part of the archaeological record and should be documented. Archaeologists number, catalog and photograph anything collected from a site. They also take extensive notes on archaeological data and the methods of excavation. Thorough processing of the data is important for proper analysis. Once the fieldwork is completed, the collected data is analyzed at laboratories, which identify relative and absolute age. Laboratories also identify sediments and remains of plants and animals at the site.