This page features the processes of an Archaeological Dig. Follow the
links to learn about the processes in an archaeological dig site.
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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.
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| Setting up a grid Screen
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| Fabian digs a hold 2 centimeters
deep Screen
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| A test pit and soil horizons
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| Layers of soil Screen
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| Explanation of a sifter
Screen
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| De-ionized water Screen
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| The extractor Screen
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| Jacob pours samples into
filters Screen
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| Diluting concentration Screen
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| Concept of relative values
Screen
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| Blank or Control sample
Screen
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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.
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| A brecha Screen
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| Zach describes his current
location and the process of mapping Screen
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| The type of paper used Screen
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| Entering the data into the
MC5 data collector Screen
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| Zach downloads data from
the MC5 collector to his laptop Screen
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| Zach converts the data into
Quattro Pro for later contour map making Screen
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Recording |
Independent
architectural illustrator Heather Hurst produced architectural renderings
that provided three dimensional perspective on the dig layout and
individual buildings.
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| From plans and profiles
to perspective Screen
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| The use of computers in
Heather’s work Screen
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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.
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| Demonstration of the first
step in sifting Screen
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| Explanation of the process
of removing the lite float Screen
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| Using a tube sifter to remove
more lite float Screen
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| Emily hangs the float bags
out to dry Screen
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