3rd August 2011, 01:13 PM
I have one idea/comment..........but not sure how relevant it'll be.
I find the most misunderstood thing in archaeology is deposit formation processes.
Lots of diggers I have worked with/trained have never had good teaching/training in asking the right questions/ looking for the right clues or understanding how to understand how a deposit was formed; or how important this is to every aspect of site interpretation.
It sounds like your project is designed to help with this. How about digging two pits, leaving one open to fill up naturally, and backfilling another. Excavate these at a later date and record. This would start the students thinking along the right lines for interpreting deposits.
Or were you planning on doing similar at the end of de-constructing your post-holes/structure.
Ooo and while I remember, if the postholes are to be excavated and recorded after........don't forget to teach them to look for the three deposits, back-fill, postpipe and the occupational debris in the little dip at the top caused by settling. You could go on to explain how dating evidence in these three deposits actually date three different events........before and up to construction, occupation and demolition and after.
But maybe stating the obvious......sorry.
I find the most misunderstood thing in archaeology is deposit formation processes.
Lots of diggers I have worked with/trained have never had good teaching/training in asking the right questions/ looking for the right clues or understanding how to understand how a deposit was formed; or how important this is to every aspect of site interpretation.
It sounds like your project is designed to help with this. How about digging two pits, leaving one open to fill up naturally, and backfilling another. Excavate these at a later date and record. This would start the students thinking along the right lines for interpreting deposits.
Or were you planning on doing similar at the end of de-constructing your post-holes/structure.
Ooo and while I remember, if the postholes are to be excavated and recorded after........don't forget to teach them to look for the three deposits, back-fill, postpipe and the occupational debris in the little dip at the top caused by settling. You could go on to explain how dating evidence in these three deposits actually date three different events........before and up to construction, occupation and demolition and after.
But maybe stating the obvious......sorry.