Archaeological Techniques

A field archaeologist has to be skilled in a wide range of techniques. Some have become so complex that they are undertaken by specialists.

Fieldwalking

A ploughed field is walked along a series of grid lines and any finds that are spotted are collected and mapped. This can often provide the first clues to the existence of an archaeological site. Pottery, animal bones, oyster shells, fragments of metalwork are all important clues to human activity but care has to be taken to distinguish between an actual settlement or burial site, and material that has been brought onto the site as a result of ancient manuring.

Excavation

An excavator needs to be able to recognise differences in soil colour and texture, and to have a careful eye for recovering the finds from each separate layer. Detailed records and drawings are made, and photographs taken, so that the site can, in effect, be reconstructed in the office afterwards. Computers are now greatly used in this work. Each layer of soil or feature is given a unique reference number so that a table (matrix) can be drawn up showing the chronological development of the site, with actual dates provided by the finds found within each layer.

Finds Recording

Specialists are responsible for analysing different classes of finds - pottery, metalwork etc. These finds not only provide the chronological framework for the site but also provide important evidence for the character of a site (e.g. domestic rubbish or industrial waste), its social status and its trading contacts.

Environmental Sampling

The soil itself can contain valuable evidence. Samples of soil from different features may be collected, sieved and the minute fragments of seeds, pollen, animal bone and insects collected. This can provide important evidence of diet, crops, cultivation and the general environmental background to the site. The opportunity might also be taken to collect environmental samples from non-archaeological sites in order to provide further background information as to the changing nature of the landscape.

   See also Environmental Archaeology.

Building Recording

Archaeology is not just confined to below-ground work. The need to provide accurate, interpreted drawings of historic buildings is increasingly required by planning authorities. It is also important that archaeologists trying to reconstruct a medieval or later building from the remains of its former foundations have a clear idea of the practicalities of building design and what contemporary buildings actually looked like.

Geophysical Survey

This includes a range of techniques that have the advantage of not disturbing the land but which can provide plans of underlying features such as building or boundary ditches. The main techniques consist of magnetometry and magnetic susceptibility (measuring magnetic differences in the soil), resistivity (measuring differences in electrical conductivity between soils) and ground probing radar which measures the time intervals for a radar signal to bounce off different layers of soil and features. These techniques are used by specialist sub-contractors of a field team.

Report Writing

An archaeological project is not complete until a report has been published on the discoveries. This allows other archaeologists to assess the results and allow the latter to be used to guide future management and research. This part of the work has its own skills in presenting the often complex data in a coherent form. Skilled archaeological illustrators are also involved both in drawing up the field records and also in producing interpretative illustrations (often using Computer Aided Design) to enable a better popular understanding of the site.

Archaeological Contractors

A great deal of archaeological fieldwork is now undertaken on a contract basis which means that there is no guarantee that a local body might carry out a particular piece of work.

The Field Section of Worcestershire Historic Environment and Archaeology  Service seeks to deliver a competitive service for Worcestershire for a wide range of clients. The Field Section is committed to the maintenance and development of a range of information and educational activities that derive from our role as part of a public service.

The Field Section also undertakes work in other counties to develop common research themes. This in turn supports work in the county - enabling specialists to be maintained and ensuring a proper regional perspective.

For further details contact:

Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service
The Hive,
Sawmill Walk,
The Butts,
Worcester, WR1 3PB

Tel:  01905 765560 field section enquiries or
contact the Principal Field Archaeologist.