How to Carry out an Archaeological Excavation in the Backyard

Gather the tools. It is best if you have a shovel, a medium-sized garden trowel or a small mason's trowel, a scraper and a brush.If you are lucky enough to make any finds, you should have a tray to store them on, a camera, and a ruler or tape measure.It is also recommended to have an oilcloth and a wheelbarrow to collect the earth and any turf or paving stones, so as not to create too much mess.

Dig a research pit. Also known as a "probe excavation", this pit should be shallow (between 60 and 90 cm) and generally no wider or longer than one metre:otherwise, the job would turn out to be too big and time-consuming.Take measurements with a string and pegs, with marking paint or a frame.Raise the turf or paving stones.Place them carefully on the tarpaulin, so that you can put them back when the job is finished, with minimal consequences.Once you have lifted all the turf, check the soil for anything.This layer will be the most recent and will probably not feature anything that is very old, although you may find something that dates back a few decades, such as an old coin, discarded bottles and other recognizable objects.

• Photograph anything interesting you can find.For children, anything can be interesting, including old bottle caps and scrap, but the really interesting finds are connected to human activities and evidence of their dating.

Start removing the soil one layer at a time. To make a very rough comparison, imagine a loaf of bread.Instead of randomly poking holes in it, you can cut the bread into regular slices:roughly speaking, this is what you're trying to do, digging away layer by layer and uncovering uniform portions.This is the slowest way of digging, but, to bring each layer to light and understand its context, it is probably the most correct.

• For most excavations, your best bet is to get a sieve from your local hardware store and check the pile of soil, possibly even renting or purchasing a metal detector to detect any small traces of metal objects.Both methods provide the ability to find the subtle clues left by the story.
• The key method of stratigraphy is that if a 1970 coin is found in a layer, it is extremely unlikely that that layer dates back to before 1970 (unless the coin was buried), which is, by itself, itself, an interesting discovery.If you find a very old layer that has modern debris in it or underneath it, it's possible that old earth has been moved there, or there has been modern interference.These inconsistencies are also part of the story told by the terrain.

Pay attention to changes in the terrain. The study of layers is often called "stratigraphy" and, in the case of very complex layers, can be linked to paleontology.

• If you find darker spots, they could be charcoal residue;its presence could simply represent the remains of a campfire or campfire, or an older landfill of kitchen scraps or other waste that has enriched the soil.Small or isolated patches of burned material are more likely to be the work of man and not nature;Generally, naturally produced fires form a uniform layer of ash, which can be found when digging several pits in the area.Often, an intense or prolonged fire (such as an ancient fire, a forge or a demolition) leaves red traces in the ground.Other soil changes, such as lighter or darker colored layers, may indicate natural accumulation;a discharge of metals or chemicals;man-made holes for fence posts;pits dug to bury something;products of land management, such as a terracotta building or a stone wall.The secret to being a good archaeologist is knowing how to decipher these changes.
• Photograph whatever comes to light, using the ruler as a reference for size.In particular, take note of anything that may indicate unknown human activity, or one whose presence doesn't seem normal to you in a home's backyard.It is best to record whatever you find and observe, including the depth and location within the search pit.
• Be aware of soil types.If you find soil that is different or whose presence is not natural, that is a discovery in itself.It could simply be due to someone digging up a flowerbed and introducing material, or something more complex, such as an earthquake or the foundations of a new building;archeology is this:deduce from the earth what people did in the past.

Dig as far as the testimonies you come across take you. However, if you intend to dig more than 30cm, it is usually best to ask for help, or leave the search pit and get the involvement of the local school, university or local historical society.Deep trenches may need structural support to ensure safety and, if the water level is high, they may fill with water and be dangerous or very difficult to dig.

Record information from the pit. The best thing would be to photograph or draw each layer or any finding worthy of interest.This information can often be very important to a historian.

Set aside any finds and take them to a historian or local museum for advice. Most people can recognize a coin and pottery shard for what they are, but a local historian can provide you with a much more interesting and informative analysis on the actual age of the find, as well as interesting related historical facts.

• Be thorough in examining and recording everything that emerges from the research pit.A piece of wood could be the remainder of the trunk or branch of an old tree, but if it bears the marks left by some tool, it indicates human activity, even if it is simply a stump left by someone who was chopping wood. to burn.The same concept applies to stones, especially those that resemble flints, if you live in an area where an ancient settlement is known or suspected to exist.These stones may be plain and natural, but some may be "worked," meaning they have been shaped for decorative or functional purposes.Often traces of cement, mortar, plaster or chiseling reveal that the stone has been part of something, for example a tool, or they may indicate a place where these materials were produced.
• Anything very delicate, if there is a possibility that it is of historical or analytical importance, should not be cleaned by a mere enthusiast.Most finds can be cleaned with a brush or even water if the items are strong enough to withstand the action.

Evaluate your conclusions. Even if the chances of finding an ancient treasure are rare, you may still discover some evidence of people in your area dating back many decades before you, perhaps even a century ago.Don't overlook the most trivial things:Everyday objects contribute to the reconstruction of the image of what life was like in the past, revealing what people did in times gone by and giving you important information, such as the level of wealth or poverty, the technological advancement of the community and dependency from local or imported products.