Archaeology digging is never always gold pots and treasures

Archaeology is not always a fruitful event in which you expect to dig up valuable artifacts in which one can deem as treasures in materialistic values. People spent efforts in understanding history of mankind. Sometimes, a dig can continue without hitting into anything with value. Archaeologists, however, continue with their best efforts in finding answers of the past, even how minimal one can get out from the different layers of earth. This video clip from youtube is a good example of it all.

You don't expect all digs to be successful. Sometimes, months can go by and still remain futile. But, Archaeologists do it piece by piece so that we can always have a bigger picture of our history.

Basic Principles of Field Archaeology

1. What is Field Archaeology?

Field Archaeology is the research and study of History through actual field study on site visit, retreiving data in the from site for multiple studies usage. Ancient monuments, relicsm artifacts can exists in various forms. They can be exposed above the ground, buried or even hidden beneath the waters. In order to be understood by us humans, and function as a service for easier studies and understanding of the past, Field Archaeology uses scientific approaches in finding, excavating, identifying, researching, searching and recording such outfield activities. The process will then be properly sorted out, publicise and publish out for the public, researchers and the scientists.

One must also take note the following terms in archaeology:

Relics are movable objects from the pasts. They were created by Man for certain usages in their aspects of life.

Monuments are immovable objects. Monuments are architectural. They can be walls, towers, aquaducts or any other forms built by ancient man.

Artifacts are objects found that could be used at that period of time for certain activities. Artifacts could be in the form of food, seashells, animal bones, ashes.

With the proper scientific approach when excavating, we can access and understand how the people in the past live and function in their daily life.

The role of Field Archaeology is the searching for data, such data which could help in researching and understanding the historical advancement of man. Such data are left down by Man in the forms of Relics and Monuments. We must also understanding there is a close connection and influence of the geographical data and artifacts found on site dug out which could tell us a bigger picture of what is going on in the past. Artifacts dug out like animals bones, sea shells, soil specimens and pollen could tell us what kind of main activities affect the lifestyle of Man at the period. Such searching and excavation for data is cross-disciplinary and diverse: it can be in the form of housings, farms, burial sites; it can be also in the form of musical instruments, military weapons, art objects used in daily life, material wise is can be made known more from created pieces, undone pieces or rubbish of the past; or data can be collected as a whole civilisation, a town, a city, canals, to the smallest specimen of seeds, fauna, and insects. Field Archaeology's significance determination is depending on how well acccessed and recording and dissemination of their findings is done. The better and more data collected, information can be processed for further knowledge of the past to be formed.

2. Fieldwork activities and approach

The activities in Field Archaeology can be in the forms of site study and research, excavation and sorting out of data(cleaning). These are the basics of work carried out. We should take note that during the studies and excavation of fieldwork, we should not damage or destroy the existing relic, monument and artifacts on site. From the activities carried out, there should be proper site study, recording, proper choosing and collection of data found via excavation through the foundation and concept that we will and should preserve and protect our findings. Excavation work is through digging process, we show out the excavated site and monument, collect relics and recording of all phenomenons found. Cleansing is the process in which we pieces out and show relics as their original form. Many a times during excavation, due to the geographical factors of site, relics and monuments found are never wholly in one piece. That is why cleansing is a very important process in which archaeologist do to make known their findings to the public. One must also take note that there should minimal damage during cleansing, and activities carried out during cleansing can be reversible and not permanent fixtures to findings.

3. Archaeological work process

Archaelogical work preparation can be identified as 4 processes: preparation, fieldwork, indoor classfication and analysis of findings, publishing or field report findings.

4. Professional qualities needed by Field Archaeologists

Field Archaeologists should be healthy and fit for outfield work.
Uphold and have professional practices and ethics in findings.
Adept in the practices and knowlege in field archaeolgical practices.
Familiar with previous archaeological reports and findings of work.
Diverse and wide general knowledge.
Adept in archaeological needs in photography, measurement, video production for recording purposes.

Questions:
1. Explain the concept in artifacts, relics and monuments.
2. What are the various process in archaeological work?
3. As Field Archaeologists, what are the professional qualities needed?
4. Why do we say that field archaeology is the basic activities for collectiing of scientific data, as while as the first step in the scientific research and study of ancient artifacts?
5. Why is writing an archaeological report the role of Field Archaeology?

Reading Materials:
《考古工作手册》，中国社科院考古研究所编，文物出版社， 1982 年。
Time, Process and Structured Transformation in Archaeology (One World Archaeology)
Archaeology in Practice: Archaeological
Excavation (Cambridge Manuals in Archaeology)
The Archaeologist's Fieldwork Companion
The Archaeology Handbook: A Field Manual and Resource Guide
Field Methods in Archaeology
Sampling in Archaeology (Cambridge Manuals in Archaeology)