Important Considerations provenience in situ location in situ where it s found at a site exact location context association with other things location in reference to other things preservation what s left archeological record is incomplete Preservation some things preserve better than others archaeological record is incomplete organic materials are usually not preserved preservation enhanced at waterlogged sites lack of oxygen inhibits decomposition very cold frozen sites cold inhibits decomposition very dry sites lack of water inhibits decomposition Star Carr cid 127 mesolithic site in Great Britain waterlogged peat great preservation Field Methods Excavation different methods for different situations depends on objectives research questions stage of investigations practical concerns Test Excavations often begin with 1x1 meter test squares sometimes trenches sometimes supplement with remote sensing Excavation some sites are multi year long term projects How Archaeologists Dig natural rock level vertical subdivisions that follow natural strata arbitrary level arbitrary vertical subdivisions living floor a distinct occupational surface cid 127 Mapping vertical and horizontal location provide context and provenience datum point zero point for site vertical and horizontal reference grid for excavation units sample portion of site record units sampled Recording what you find leaving some answer future questions keep lots of records be redundant archaeology is a destructive process always try to leave a portion of site to return to in future new methods new questions test conclusions test excavations help archaeologists decide where to focus their efforts open up larger excavations size and duration are determined by research questions size and complexity of site resources and money strata discrete layers of sediment that can be differentiated based on changes in color texture rock content organic content etc cid 127 Gatecliff Rockshelter had unique combination of living floors separated by sterile strata sediments deposited by flood events cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127