Ask Questions and Develop a Research Design
Archeologists' goal is to refine and improve our understanding of the past. To do so, archeologists test hypotheses from past archeological studies and make new hypotheses. They build their studies from existing data and previous scholarship.
First, archeologists decide on questions to answer. Descendants, Tribes, and local communities may provide input on which questions to ask. The questions might include:
* Who lived here, and when? Why did they leave?
* What kinds of things did people make, and who made them?
* How did they express themselves and their culture?
Next, archeologists create a research design to match the questions with the archeological methods best suited to answer them. The research design is a plan to complete a project.
Secure Permits and Do Consultation
Archeologists must have permission to excavate in national parks and other federal lands. They apply for a permit for archeological investigation to get permission. The Archaeological Resources Protection Act says that disturbing sites or removing artifacts without a permit on federal land is against the law.
Other federal laws, such as the National Historic Preservation Act, require archeologists to conduct consultation with Tribes, states, individuals, and affiliated groups about their project from the earliest stages. Consultation ensures that people most connected to the site are included in the scientific process.
Gather Background Information
Archeologists gather background information ahead of the investigation. They examine primary sources, such as oral histories, archival documents, maps, and government records. Archeologists also refer to secondary sources, like archeological reports and history books.
Archeologists check notes and reports from previous excavations, cultural studies, or historical research at the site, or sites similar to it, or located nearby. Together, these sources help archeologists anticipate what they will find and what it might mean.
Conduct Fieldwork
Archeological fieldwork can range from minimally invasive techniques to full excavation. Archeologists choose fieldwork methods that minimize impacts to archeological resources.
* Minimally invasive techniques aim to disturb the ground as little as possible. One common technique is a pedestrian survey: a systemmatic walk across an area to see if artifacts or features are visible on the surface. Another common technique is technology that sees into the ground, such as remote-sensing survey.
* Shovel testing and excavation are invasive methods that disturb the soil and the archeological information it contains. These methods destroy archeological sites. Once an area is excavated, it cannot be put back and re-excavated. As a result, archeologists try to exhaust other methods first and leave invasive methods for last.
Archeologists make maps, photographs, and notes to record their observations. They collect artifacts, ecofacts, and soil samples for further analysis. These materials are kept together by their provenience (location in the site grid). All the data from fieldwork is kept together. Once fieldwork is complete, it goes to a lab for processing.
Curate Collections
Processing the artifacts and associated documentation for long-term storage takes place in a laboratory. Archeologists estimate that for every one hour of fieldwork, they do at least three hours of work in the laboratory.
Collections managers first clean and assess the materials. They gently wash or brush grime from the artifacts. A conservator will conserve particularly important, special, or fragile artifacts to slow their deterioration.
The artifacts are sorted by type, typically by material (such as ceramic or metal) then design (like blue transfer printed or painted) or manufacture (perhaps embossed or molded). Like materials are packaged together in archival baggies, according to their site provenience. Accession and catalog numbers label the artifacts and their containers.
The entire collection is registered in a collections management database. Then, finally, it is stored on shelves in a special, temperature-controlled facility.
Analyze the Data and Write a Report
Archeologists analyze the data collected in the field and lab to derive answers to their research questions. They may look for patterns in the data, unexpected finds, statistical trends, and comparisons with other places. Archeologists may also cross-reference their finds with other sites to gain a fuller picture about a time, place, or group of people.
Archeologists write a report after the investigation is complete. The report summarizes the research questions, field investigation methods, data found, and artifact calculations. It interprets all this information to make conclusions about human life in the past.
Archeologists refer to reports when they want to remember what was found at a site. They may also use them when doing cross-site comparisons. Sometimes, the report is the only thing that remains from an archeological investigation, especially if archeologists do not find artifacts.
Scientists and historians who are not archeologists can also use archeological reports in their research. Although some sensitive data may be withheld to protect sites, reports can provide information that cannot be known other ways.
Share Results with the Public
Archeological resources are nonrenewable and fragile, but archeologists still find ways to use them again and again. One of their most important uses is public education. Archeologists will:
* Publish books and articles online and in print
* Make presentations to meetings, schools, and local groups
* Create exhibits in museums and signs outside
* Create educational lesson plans, park programs, and special activities
The Steps of Archeology are many, but the purpose is to ensure that archeological investigations yield the best possible information. This information helps the National Park Service to tell all Americans' stories and preserve and protect them for this and future generations.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service