(Page 2 of 3)

Surveying the Site

Following identification and descriptive photography of the area to be excavated, archaeologists have to determine the layout and the limits of the site. One of the most common methods is to survey the site and map it on a grid using a coordinate system. This enables workers on the site to plot carefully the location of all artifacts or features. On the actual groound stakes are placed in the ground at equal distances and connected with tight string to form a grid. This out line is then drawn on paper to scale. Usually the coordinates are drawn in squares labeled with letters horizontally and numbers vertically. Have students practice this technique with the following set of directions.

Student Directions

1. Using a ruler, blank sheet of paper and pencil, draw a 7"x7" outline of a square.
2. Then draw in the grids at one inch intervals both vertically and horizontally.
3. Label the far left side of the horizontal squares with letters beginning A,B,C, ect.
4. Label the vertical lines starting at the top with numbers 1,2,3, ect.
   

   	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
   1
   2
   3
   4
   5
   6
   7
   8

5. Record on your grid the following finds:

• Three potsherds were located in the center of A,3.
• Two odd-shaped metal flakes located in the upper right hand corner of F,6.
• Six different colored rocks located in an upside-down semi circle in C,1.
• A chipped rock round in the lower left hand of G,7.
• Three additional chipped rocks found in the lower right hand corner of G,6.
• One bone fragment located in the center of D,4.

Compare student grids with this one based on directions. Ask students to assess how closely their work matched. Why is it important that artifacts be labeled and their location carefully recorded? Why would it matter if you miscalculated by a few squares?