An Introduction to Archeology

Without archeology and the men and women who devote their lives to this craft , you wouldn’t have the visions of the Tyrannosaurus Rex or learn about the complicated past of humans. Archeology is the study of all things ancient, old, or primal.

Archeology is a science that involves the study of human cultures, using an assortment of techniques that include recovery, documentation, analysis, and interpretation of material remains that are found. Other things, such as architecture, landscaping details, and artifacts are important to an archeologist. Basically, the field aims to understand the past and those that lived in it.

Tools of the Trade

To better understand the process of discovering the unknown and uncovering vital facts to the past, consider the list of tools that an archeologist will use during an excavation or dig.

Trowels are used to remove the topsoil that is covering the entrance to whatever an archeologist suspects is hiding underneath the ground. Gloves will protect your hands while you dig. Shovels are used to dig into the soil. Picks are also used to dig. As you move from a specified piece of land , you will use graph paper to map where you plan on digging and what ground you have already covered. Archeologists move across the terrain in patterns consisting of even squares. A measuring tape is used to map out these plots of ground. Strings are used to mark a site grid and are held up by nails, which also helps to make the string even. These are pounded into the ground with the help of a hammer.

Once an artifact has been detected, brushes are used to remove dirt in a delicate manner. On a dig, make sure you have enough pens and pencils in order to jot down the information pertaining to your progress and findings. In your pocket, you should have Ziploc bags for the storage of your artifacts. When removing amounts of dirt from the ground, screens are used to sift out and separate the dirt from the artifacts. The dirt is removed from the site with the help of buckets. A dustpan is used to put dirt in and to dump into buckets. When putting dirt back into a hole, a tarp is used to make sure the contents are screened well before replacing.

Tweezers also come in handy when trying to pick up small objects and removing debris from an artifact. Sometimes surrounding trees or undergrowth compromises a site. Clippers are used to cut away any roots that are found within a site grid. Levels are used to measure how far a person has dug into the ground. Throughout the duration of a dig, a camera will come in handy to take photos of the artifacts, the entire site, as well as the holes when they are being dug.