Trowel

Definition

A trowel is a small hand tool used in archaeology for digging, smoothing, and shaping soil or other materials at excavation sites. It is essential for making precise movements when uncovering artifacts and features without causing damage. Its design allows archaeologists to carefully expose layers of soil, making it a crucial tool for excavation methods and techniques.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Trowels come in various shapes and sizes, with pointed trowels being popular for precise digging and flat trowels useful for smoothing surfaces.
2. Using a trowel allows archaeologists to maintain control over their movements, reducing the risk of damaging delicate artifacts during excavation.
3. Trowels are often made from stainless steel or other durable materials to withstand the rigors of excavation while being easy to clean.
4. A common technique in archaeology is to use the trowel to create clean edges around features or artifacts, helping to document their context accurately.
5. Trowels are typically used in combination with other tools, like brushes or screens, to ensure that excavations yield the best possible results.

Review Questions

• How does the design of a trowel enhance the precision of archaeological excavations?
  • The design of a trowel enhances precision through its small size and pointed or flat edges that allow for delicate digging and smoothing. This control is crucial for carefully exposing artifacts without damaging them. By using a trowel, archaeologists can meticulously uncover layers of soil and features, ensuring that they can record their findings accurately and maintain context.
• Discuss the relationship between trowels and stratigraphy in archaeological excavations.
  • Trowels play a vital role in understanding stratigraphy during archaeological excavations by allowing archaeologists to carefully remove soil layers while preserving their sequence. By using a trowel to dig with precision, researchers can identify different strata that contain various artifacts, which helps in establishing a chronological order of human activity at the site. This relationship between trowels and stratigraphy is fundamental in interpreting how past cultures interacted with their environment.
• Evaluate the impact of using a trowel on the overall process of artifact recovery and documentation in archaeology.
  • Using a trowel significantly impacts artifact recovery and documentation by enabling archaeologists to work methodically and carefully. The precision offered by trowels allows for accurate recording of context, which is essential for understanding an artifact's significance. This attention to detail ensures that valuable information about past societies is preserved, providing insights into their behaviors, technologies, and cultural practices. Ultimately, the careful use of a trowel contributes to the reliability and integrity of archaeological research.

Related terms

Shovel: A larger hand tool used for digging and moving bulk soil and materials at excavation sites.

Stratigraphy:

The study of rock layers (strata) and layering (stratification) in archaeology, which helps determine the chronological sequence of artifacts.

Context:

The relationship of an artifact or feature to its surroundings, which provides important information about its use and significance in the archaeological record.