Training excavation
Encyclopedia
Training excavations are normally run by University departments or large contractors and employ professional archaeologists in several disciplines to teach the basics of archaeological methodology, including photography
, stratigraphy
, illustration
and draughtsmanship as well as survey, finds treatment and a host of other subjects.
The main element of a Training Excavation is the student or paying volunteer. Often the excavation site is large and rural
, and can be worked on over the summer period for several weeks, with many groups arriving over the period for training. Many sites are only excavated due to this type of practice, where development is not pressing for completion and more time can be taken in the long term investigation of the site and training of new archaeologists. The standard of training on an excavation can be variable though, with some sites run by academic archaeologists who are not as up to date with current practice. It is best to check the feedback on sites prior to joining.
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
, stratigraphy
Stratigraphy
Stratigraphy, a branch of geology, studies rock layers and layering . It is primarily used in the study of sedimentary and layered volcanic rocks....
, illustration
Archaeological illustration
Archaeological Illustration is a form of technical illustration that records material derived from an archaeological context graphically. - Overview :Archaeological Illustration encompasses a number of sub disciplines. These are:...
and draughtsmanship as well as survey, finds treatment and a host of other subjects.
The main element of a Training Excavation is the student or paying volunteer. Often the excavation site is large and rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
, and can be worked on over the summer period for several weeks, with many groups arriving over the period for training. Many sites are only excavated due to this type of practice, where development is not pressing for completion and more time can be taken in the long term investigation of the site and training of new archaeologists. The standard of training on an excavation can be variable though, with some sites run by academic archaeologists who are not as up to date with current practice. It is best to check the feedback on sites prior to joining.