Today we finally made our way below surface by starting two shovel tests around the section house. Shovel probing/testing is a quick method archaeologists use to assess the extent of archaeological deposits in an area. Some archaeologists use a statistical grid to determine the placement of these shovel tests when working with an immense landscape. In terms of my research, I wanted to use shovel tests to determine 1) if there were any artifacts at all at the site (since the site has a long history of landscape modification, floods, and fires), 2) if we would actually find artifacts related to the occupation of the section house, and finally, 3) how far the deposits extended outside the section house's architectural remains.
Opening up a shovel test.
When we perform a shovel test, we record how deep we're finding artifacts (for example, a glass fragment 50 centimeters below surface) in a binder containing information on the location of the shovel test, the soil in the shovel test, and photographs of it. When I return home, I will consider all these factor to determine how the artifacts got into that location on the site (what archaeologists call a "depositional history").
Ilana and Marisa screening soil from a shovel test. Archaeologists do this so that we can recover the smallest bits of glass, bone, ceramics, and other artifacts.
Ilana, Marisa, and Scott using a Munsell chart to assess the soil. Studying the soil helps archaeologists determine particular events in the site's history. Sometimes we can see evidence of a fire, a flood, or other environmental event.
This week a new Crew Chief, Stacy Kozakavich, joined us from Northern California. Stacy is an incredibly experienced archaeologist, having worked at a variety of sites across Canada and the United States. Today, she lead students in hand mapping an incinerator related to the section house.
Emily, Stacy K. and Adelle mapping the incinerator.
We'll continue shovel testing and we'll open up a few excavation units within the section house this week. Stay tuned!
