Vertical excavation

Definition

Vertical excavation is a method of archaeological digging that focuses on excavating downward through layers of soil and artifacts to reveal the stratigraphy and sequence of human activity over time. This technique allows archaeologists to analyze different levels of occupation and their corresponding cultural contexts, providing insights into the development and changes within a site.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Vertical excavation helps to create a timeline of human occupation by revealing how different layers correspond to specific periods or events.
2. This method often involves careful documentation, as each layer must be recorded in detail to understand its context and relationship with adjacent layers.
3. Vertical excavation can uncover features such as post holes, hearths, or storage pits, which provide valuable information about past human activities.
4. Archaeologists often combine vertical excavation with horizontal excavation to achieve a comprehensive understanding of a site.
5. This technique can sometimes reveal evidence of construction techniques, resource use, and changes in settlement patterns over time.

Review Questions

• How does vertical excavation contribute to our understanding of site stratigraphy?
  • Vertical excavation plays a crucial role in understanding site stratigraphy by allowing archaeologists to dig down through different layers of soil and artifacts. Each layer represents a distinct period of occupation or use, providing insights into how human activity has changed over time. By documenting these layers meticulously, researchers can reconstruct the sequence of events and understand the historical context of the site more effectively.
• Discuss the importance of careful documentation during vertical excavation and its impact on interpreting archaeological findings.
  • Careful documentation during vertical excavation is vital because it ensures that all details about each stratigraphic layer are recorded accurately. This includes noting the depth, type of artifacts found, and any features that may be present. Such thorough records allow archaeologists to interpret their findings accurately, reconstructing past human behaviors and interactions with the environment based on the context provided by the documented layers.
• Evaluate how combining vertical excavation with horizontal excavation can enhance our overall understanding of an archaeological site.
  • Combining vertical excavation with horizontal excavation provides a more comprehensive view of an archaeological site by integrating the depth-based insights gained from vertical layers with the spatial organization uncovered through horizontal digging. This approach allows researchers to see not just when people occupied a site but also how they used space within those layers. It enriches interpretations regarding settlement patterns, social organization, and cultural practices by connecting temporal data with spatial relationships among artifacts and features.

Related terms

Stratigraphy:

The study of rock layers (strata) and layering, which in archaeology refers to the analysis of different layers of soil and artifacts to understand the chronological sequence of human activity.

Site Formation Processes: The natural and cultural processes that lead to the deposition of materials at an archaeological site, influencing the formation and preservation of stratigraphic layers.

Excavation Grid: A systematic layout used during excavation to create a controlled framework for digging, recording, and analyzing the spatial distribution of artifacts and features.