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The Process of Digging
This page features the processes of an Archaeological Dig. Follow the links to learn about the processes in an archaeological dig site.
![Process of Digging](images/digging1.jpg) |
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The Process of Digging |
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Removing the Topsoil ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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Using a pick ax ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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A tall dry sifter ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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A hand-held dry sifter ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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A trowel ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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A small poker and paint brush ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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Wet brushing ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
![Soil Phosphate Testing](images/test1.jpg) |
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Soil Phosphate Testing |
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Dr. Richard Terry of BYU with the assistance of BYU students Jacob Parnell, Fabian Fernandez, and Benjamin Crozier, apply the process of phosphate prospecting and heavy metal resulting in immediate feedback to excavators about phosphate concentrations and possible midden loci in habitable sectors. Such sampling has produced great success in predicting the location of rich middens and human burials.
Also during the 1999 field season, ten soil profiles located within Piedras Negras and at rural sites outside the city were described and samples collected from each horizon. Soil properties were characterized and taxonomic designations were determined at the Soil Analysis Laboratory at Brigham Young University.
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Outcomes and uses of soil phosphate testing ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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Setting up a grid ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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Fabian digs a hold 2 centimeters deep ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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A test pit and soil horizons ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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The analysis process ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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Soil samples ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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Layers of soil ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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Explanation of a sifter ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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Chemicals in phosphate test ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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De-ionized water ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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The extractor ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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Dr. Terry's phosphate process ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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Jacob pours samples into filters ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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Diluting concentration ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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Concept of relative values ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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Blank or Control sample ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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The colorimeter ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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![Mapping](images/map1.jpg) |
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Mapping |
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Zachary Nelsons computer-assisted mapping established, for the first time, absolute elevations in peripheral zones. Nelson also concentrated in the southeast zone of Piedras Negras proper, known to contain many hitherto unmapped mound groups. His mapping recorded no fewer than 68 buildings,
many of them missed by Penn mappers in the 1930s. Typically, these lay in irregular groupings in areas of dense gaymil (second growth) and on low ridges in the seasonal bajo below the South Group.
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Introduction to the process of discovering and mapping new structures ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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A brecha ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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The process of taking points using a Total Station ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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Zach describes his current location and the process of mapping ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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The process of 'sighting' points ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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The type of paper used ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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What can be ascertained from the survey process ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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Entering the data into the MC5 data collector ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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Zach downloads data from the MC5 collector to his laptop ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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Zach describes the work as the real fun of archaeology ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
![Recording](images/recording1.jpg) |
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Recording |
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Independent architectural illustrator Heather Hurst produced architectural renderings that provided three dimensional perspective on the dig layout and individual buildings.
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Heather Hurst explains her illustration of the dig site ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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From plans and profiles to perspective ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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How the drawings are helpful ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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The use of computers in Heather's work ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
![Sifting Process](images/sifting1.jpg) |
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Sifting Process |
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During the 1999 field season, BYU student Emily Elmer floated hundreds of soil samples sent in from excavations with excellent retrieval of carbonized plant remains, fish bone, lithics, and small artifacts.
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Emily explains the float process ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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Demonstration of the first step in sifting ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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Ben (BYU student) removes the lite float ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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Explanation of the process of removing the lite float ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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Using a tube sifter to remove more lite float ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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Emily hangs the float bags out to dry ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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Sorting and analyzing the contents of a bag ![Play QuickTime Movie](images/QuickTimeLogo.gif) |
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