3.4 Post Excavation Analysis

Post excavation analysis (or post-ex) is the term used to describe the methods applied to the finds and samples taken from a site, as well as any other modes of analysis levelled at a site to best understand it once excavation is complete. It should be noted that post excavation is a bit of a misnomer, as these methods can be applied concurrently with excavation and another season of excavation may begin before “post” excavation is even completed from the first investigation.

Throughout the excavation of a site, numerous samples will be taken. The number of these will vary depending on the goal of the excavation, as well as how much time and money is available. Ultimately though, each excavation will likely finish with a collection of:

• Archaeological finds, attributed to a specific context
• Soil samples taken from a specific feature and context
• Materials or samples set aside for dating methods

The latter of these will be discussed properly in Module 5. Archaeological Science, but post excavation analysis of finds and soil samples will be described below.