Excavation

Definition

Excavation is the systematic process of digging and uncovering artifacts, structures, and features from the past in order to gain insights into historical and archaeological contexts. This method is essential for archaeologists as it allows them to carefully document and analyze the physical remains of ancient settlements, including early Anglo-Saxon communities, their architecture, and material culture.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Excavation is conducted using a variety of tools, including trowels, shovels, brushes, and sometimes heavy machinery, depending on the size and depth of the site.
2. Careful documentation during excavation includes recording the exact location and depth of each find, which is crucial for understanding the context of artifacts.
3. Excavations often follow a grid system to ensure precise mapping and recording of features and artifacts as they are uncovered.
4. Excavation can reveal important aspects of daily life in early Anglo-Saxon settlements, such as housing structures, burial practices, and evidence of trade.
5. Post-excavation analysis involves studying the collected materials in detail to draw conclusions about social structures, cultural practices, and historical events.

Review Questions

• How does excavation contribute to our understanding of early Anglo-Saxon settlements?
  • Excavation allows researchers to uncover physical evidence from early Anglo-Saxon settlements, such as building foundations, tools, and domestic items. By systematically digging through layers of soil, archaeologists can piece together how these communities were structured and what daily life was like. The artifacts found during excavations also provide insights into trade relationships, cultural practices, and social organization within these early societies.
• What are some key methods used during excavation to ensure accurate recovery of archaeological materials?
  • During excavation, archaeologists employ several methods to ensure the accuracy of their findings. They often use a grid system to map out the site and document the exact locations of artifacts. Techniques such as stratigraphic excavation help preserve context by removing soil in layers rather than indiscriminately digging. Detailed recording forms are utilized to note the depth and position of each find, which is critical for later analysis. These methods collectively ensure that valuable information about the site's history is preserved.
• Evaluate the significance of excavation techniques in uncovering social structures within early Anglo-Saxon settlements.
  • Excavation techniques play a crucial role in revealing the social structures of early Anglo-Saxon settlements by allowing archaeologists to analyze spatial relationships between artifacts and architectural features. By examining burial sites alongside domestic structures, researchers can infer social hierarchies and community organization. Additionally, the types and quantities of artifacts found can indicate economic activities and trade relations. This layered information contributes to a deeper understanding of how these societies functioned and interacted with one another.

Related terms

Stratigraphy:

The study of rock layers (strata) and layering (stratification) in the context of excavations, which helps in understanding the chronological sequence of human activity.

Site Survey: A preliminary assessment process involving the examination of an area to identify potential archaeological sites before excavation begins.

Artifacts: Objects made or used by humans, often uncovered during excavations, that provide insight into past societies and their behaviors.