ARCHAEOLOGY
The Archaeological Method
Archaeologists are scientists who have lengthy, specialized training in using the scientific method. The purpose of archaeology is to learn about past peoples, cultures, technologies, and the way people behaved or lived their lives. Archaeology itself is the method used to gather this information. It involves the study of material remains such as artifacts and features. There are several steps to the archaeological method. These steps include fieldwork, laboratory analysis, specialized analysis, and interpretation.
The first step in the archaeological method is fieldwork. To locate an archaeological site, archaeologists carry out a survey. For example, you own a large field and want to know if thereŐs a site there. Archaeologists arrive and set up a grid in the field. Archaeologists make the grid using geometry to give an accurate sample of what might lie under the ground. Then the archaeologists use the grid to dig shovel tests (small round holes) every 10 meters. Based on what the dirt in the shovel tests looks like and if artifacts are found within them, an archaeologist can tell you if there is a site in the field.
Once the survey is completed, the archaeologists move on to Testing. Testing is when archaeologists examine a site to see if there is enough information there to justify full-scale excavation, which is known as Data Recovery. During testing, archaeologists excavate test units. Test units are large square blocks that measure 2 by 2 meters. Again, the archaeologists decide to conduct Data Recovery based on the look of the soil, number and type of artifacts found, and the presence of features, which are useful items, such as fireplaces or houses, made by people. Data Recovery is the final stage of fieldwork. During Data Recovery, an archaeologist tries to excavate as much of the site as possible. This level of excavation includes digging all features and many test units, taking photographs, making maps and drawings, and sometimes even using heavy machines like backhoes to uncover large areas of the site.
Once the fieldwork is finished, all the artifacts are sent to the laboratory for analysis. In the lab, the artifacts are washed and separated into groups. For example, all ceramics are grouped together. Technicians then place the artifacts in bags that record the exact place the artifact was found. This place is called a provenience. The provenience is extremely important to the archaeologist, because it often reflects the behavior of the person who put it there. All the proveniences are put into a database and an artifact catalog is made.
Specialized analysis is made up of things like faunal studies (study of animal bone), botanical studies (study of plants used at the site), and Radiocarbon dating. The plant and animal studies are done to tell archaeologists about the types of things people ate and what types of plants they were using for medicines. Radiocarbon dating is a way of dating things by testing the rate of decay within carbon. This technique is only used on prehistoric sites. On historic sites, you can check artifacts and features at the site against written records and personal accounts. On prehistoric sites there are no written records, and other dating methods are needed.
The final step in the archaeological method is interpretation. Most interpretation is done by the head archaeologist, called the Principal Investigator. The Principal Investigator is in charge of everything at the site, and they must make sure that all analysis is done correctly. The Principal Investigator gathers all of the databases, maps, artifact catalogs, and specialized analysis, and uses them to figure out what happened at the site. Once finished, the Principal investigator will write a report, magazine article, or maybe even a book about the site.
The Point Peter Excavation
The Point Peter site is located on the Point Peter Peninsula east of the town of St. Marys, Georgia. The site overlooks the North River. Point Peter is an important War of 1812 battlefield. Historical records suggest that a battery, heavy artillery, blockhouses, barracks, a hospital, a cemetery, and gunboats were located at or near the site. Archaeological investigations were conducted at Point Peter in order to retrieve important information concerning the War of 1812.
Fieldwork began in May 2004. Archaeologists set up a grid at the site using a laser mapping tool. Archaeologists dug shovel tests every 10 meters along this grid. The artifacts recovered from the shovel tests showed the archaeologists what parts of the site had the most features and would probably give us the most information concerning the war. Archaeologists found many items, including the remains of several buildings, a well, a privy (outhouse), and thousands of artifacts. Because so many important things were found at Point Peter, archaeologists skipped Testing and began Data Recovery.
During Data Recovery, archaeologists excavated large areas or blocks of soil. One of these areas contained the Point Peter military barracks. The barracks contained medicine bottles, military buttons, musket balls, and gun flints. The well and privy were also excavated and they too contained tons of artifacts. In all, 68,253 artifacts were found at Point Peter.
Laboratory analysis and specialized analysis began in June 2004, and took almost two years to finish. Once the ceramics were analyzed, the story of Point Peter began to emerge. Many of the ceramics in the barracks are what archaeologists call high status wares. This means that all the dishes were very expensive, way too expensive to be used by soldiers. What were these expensive dishes doing there? To find the answer, archaeologists researched historic documents. Archaeologists examined personal journals, newspaper stories, and other documents written by people who lived in St. Marys during the War of 1812. In these documents, they learned that the soldiers raided plantation homes in the area and stole many of the expensive items located in the houses. Analysis told them that the types of expensive ceramics found in the barracks were the same types of ceramics used by local planters in the early 1800s. The lab analysis combined with document research confirmed that the soldiers had stolen the dishes from local plantations.
The specialized analysis, particularly the botanical analysis, also uncovered new information. A large number of yarrow seeds were found in the privy. Yarrow is a wild herb that contains a substance called alkaloids. Alkaloids are natural ingredients that stop bleeding. Yarrow has been used for hundreds of years on battlefields by soldiers who have been wounded in order stop bleeding. The fact that it was found in the privy at Point Peter indicates that yarrow was still being used during the War of 1812.
The final step in the archaeological method, interpretation, is being done as we speak. The Principal Investigator for Point Peter is writing a large scientific report. In this report, he will present new information about the War of 1812. In particular, he will focus on what a soldierŐs life was really like and how that might be different from what we currently believe.
The Point Peter field crew take a break from their work to strike a pose.
Archaeology goes beyond simply digging. Here Patrick Severts uses a metal detector to pinpoint potential artifacts such as musket balls and uniform buttons.
The scale of excavation can range from the hand trowel to the massive back hoe depending on the time allowed and amount earth needed to be moved.
Scrapes made with a backhoe such as this one need to be carefully examined to detect possible archaeological features present on the newly revealed surface.
Excavation units, such as this 2m x 2m unit, are dug in a series of 10 cm levels. Artifacts are separately collected and recorded from each level.
The earth from each unit is put through a swinging screen such this one to filter out the soil from the artifacts.
Lab work involves recording and analyzing all artifacts found at a site. This can include repairing broken vessels. Above, the glass shards are grouped by type and repaired if possible to determine the number of vessels found at a given site.