The Process of Digging

This page features the processes of an Archaeological Dig. Follow the links to learn about the processes in an archaeological dig site.

		The Process of Digging
		Removing the Topsoil
		Using a pick ax
		A tall dry sifter
		A hand-held dry sifter
		A trowel
		A small poker and paint brush
		Wet brushing

		Soil Phosphate Testing
		Dr. Richard Terry of BYU with the assistance of BYU students Jacob Parnell, Fabian Fernandez, and Benjamin Crozier, apply the process of phosphate prospecting and heavy metal resulting in immediate feedback to excavators about phosphate concentrations and possible midden loci in habitable sectors. Such sampling has produced great success in predicting the location of rich middens and human burials. Also during the 1999 field season, ten soil profiles located within Piedras Negras and at rural sites outside the city were described and samples collected from each horizon. Soil properties were characterized and taxonomic designations were determined at the Soil Analysis Laboratory at Brigham Young University.

	Outcomes and uses of soil phosphate testing
	Setting up a grid
	Fabian digs a hold 2 centimeters deep
	A test pit and soil horizons
	The analysis process
	Soil samples
	Layers of soil
	Explanation of a sifter
	Chemicals in phosphate test
	De-ionized water
	The extractor
	Dr. Terry's phosphate process
	Jacob pours samples into filters
	Diluting concentration
	Concept of relative values
	Blank or Control sample
	The colorimeter

		Mapping
		Zachary Nelson’s computer-assisted mapping established, for the first time, absolute elevations in peripheral zones. Nelson also concentrated in the southeast zone of Piedras Negras proper, known to contain many hitherto unmapped mound groups. His mapping recorded no fewer than 68 buildings, many of them missed by Penn mappers in the 1930’s. Typically, these lay in irregular groupings in areas of dense gaymil (second growth) and on low ridges in the seasonal bajo below the South Group.

	Introduction to the process of discovering and mapping new structures
	A brecha
	The process of taking points using a Total Station
	Zach describes his current location and the process of mapping
	The process of 'sighting' points
	The type of paper used
	What can be ascertained from the survey process
	Entering the data into the MC5 data collector
	Zach downloads data from the MC5 collector to his laptop
	Zach describes the work as the real fun of archaeology

		Recording
		Independent architectural illustrator Heather Hurst produced architectural renderings that provided three dimensional perspective on the dig layout and individual buildings.

	Heather Hurst explains her illustration of the dig site
	From plans and profiles to perspective
	How the drawings are helpful
	The use of computers in Heather's work

		Sifting Process
		During the 1999 field season, BYU student Emily Elmer floated hundreds of soil samples sent in from excavations with excellent retrieval of carbonized plant remains, fish bone, lithics, and small artifacts.

	Emily explains the float process
	Demonstration of the first step in sifting
	Ben (BYU student) removes the lite float
	Explanation of the process of removing the lite float
	Using a tube sifter to remove more lite float
	Emily hangs the float bags out to dry
	Sorting and analyzing the contents of a bag

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