2.2 Excavation and Stratigraphy

This lesson briefly introduces excavationThe systematic process of uncovering archaeological remains through digging and recording. and stratigraphyThe analysis of soil layers (strata) at archaeological sites to understand the chronological sequence of human activity. - two integral elements of archaeological research. Both of these will be referenced in every other module, and understanding their role and value provides the foundation for all of our understanding.

Excavation

Every day we are surrounded by the echoes of the past. Ancient heritage sites, Victorian railway stations, and motorways that follow Roman roads are all pertinent examples in Britain. So much more than that, however, lies just beneath the ground. Archaeologists access this hidden history by carrying out direct excavation. Module 3. Archaeological Fieldwork will explain how this works in depth, but the fundamental is to reveal the remnants of history using spades, mattocks, and trowels. The footprint of prehistoric houses, the bones of dead livestock, and the scattered cast-offs from industry can all be revealed to demonstrate how people lived, the purpose of different landscapes, and the broad societal and cultural links throughout the world.

By carefully excavating through different contexts and features, archaeologists can painstakingly record the past while losing as little evidence as possible. The careful and exhaustive nature of the excavation is integral as the process is inherently destructive - once the ground has been removed to reveal an ancient featureA non-portable element of an archaeological site, such as a wall, ditch, or hearth., it cannot be returned and the information cannot be gained again. This becomes all the more important as stratigraphy can be enormously complex.