Soil screening

Definition

Soil screening is a process used in archaeology to separate artifacts and ecofacts from soil during excavation. This technique involves passing excavated soil through a mesh or sieve to catch small items that may provide valuable information about past human activity and environmental conditions. By collecting these materials, archaeologists can gain insights into the site's history and the behaviors of its former inhabitants.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Soil screening helps recover smaller artifacts that might otherwise be missed during excavation, such as tools, bone fragments, and seeds.
2. This technique can reveal information about site formation processes, including how different layers of soil were deposited over time.
3. Archaeologists often use different mesh sizes for screening depending on the size of artifacts they expect to find.
4. Soil screening not only aids in artifact recovery but also helps in analyzing soil composition and potential features like hearths or post holes.
5. The practice of soil screening is vital for thorough documentation and ensures a more comprehensive understanding of past cultures.

Review Questions

• How does soil screening enhance the excavation process and contribute to artifact recovery?
  • Soil screening enhances the excavation process by allowing archaeologists to recover smaller artifacts that might be overlooked during traditional digging. By using mesh screens, these excavators can catch items such as pottery shards, animal bones, and plant remains that are crucial for understanding the site's history. This method improves the overall data collected, leading to a richer interpretation of past human behavior and environmental conditions.
• Discuss the implications of using different mesh sizes in soil screening during archaeological digs.
  • Using different mesh sizes in soil screening can significantly impact the types of artifacts recovered from an archaeological site. Finer screens capture smaller items like seeds and tiny tools, while coarser screens may allow larger objects to pass through. The choice of mesh size reflects the research questions posed by archaeologists; specific sizes can target particular artifacts or ecofacts that inform about daily life, diet, or manufacturing processes at the site. Thus, selecting appropriate mesh sizes is critical for achieving desired research outcomes.
• Evaluate the role of soil screening in contextual analysis and its importance in reconstructing past human activities.
  • Soil screening plays a vital role in contextual analysis by providing a broader range of data regarding past human activities. By recovering artifacts from various soil layers, archaeologists can better understand the relationships between different finds and their respective contexts. This aids in reconstructing the cultural practices and environmental interactions of former populations. Moreover, a comprehensive understanding gained from soil screening ensures that interpretations are well-founded and reflective of actual historical scenarios, which is essential for accurate archaeological narratives.

Related terms

Sifting: The act of using a sieve or screen to separate finer materials from coarser ones in order to locate artifacts.

Stratigraphy:

The study of rock layers and layering, crucial for understanding the chronological sequence of human activities at a site.

Contextual Analysis:

The examination of artifacts within their archaeological context, helping to interpret their significance and the circumstances of their deposition.