Renfrew and Bahn Survey and Excavation

Archaeology has expanded beyond site excavation to include off-site evidence and landscape studies.
Archaeological research now includes the analysis of museum archives and previously collected materials.

Research Design: Formulation of strategies to resolve questions or test hypotheses in archaeology, including:
- Collecting and recording evidence.
- Processing and analyzing data.
- Publishing results in various formats.

Ground Survey: Involves consulting documentary sources and physically surveying the land to find archaeological features.
- Can be applied to sites at risk from development (Cultural Resource Management).
Aerial Survey: Uses photographs from above to identify archaeological features, including:
- Oblique Photographs: More visually intuitive.
- Vertical Photographs: Better for maps and technical plans.
- Drones: Increasingly popular for capturing archaeological data in 3D.

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR): Sends radio pulses into the ground to detect changes in soil composition.
Magnetometry: Detects anomalies in magnetic fields caused by buried features.
LIDAR: Uses laser scanning to map landscapes and detect subtle features even under tree cover.
Satellite Imagery: Useful for mapping large archaeological sites and features.

Excavation provides the most reliable evidence about past human activities and cultural changes.
- It involves careful planning and the distinction between horizontal (spatial) and vertical (temporal) excavation.
Stratigraphy: The study of geological layers in excavation, following the law of superposition for archaeological dating.
Excavation Methods:
- Wheeler Box-Grid Method: Retains soil between grid squares for vertical analysis.
- Open-Area Excavation: Focuses on horizontal exposure of a site to reveal spatial relationships.
Techniques like step-trenching may be employed for deep sites.

Digital technologies (like 3D modeling and drones) improve site recording and visualization.
Advances in digital data capture provide detailed and accessible archaeological records.
- Examples include the Jamestown Rediscovery project combining traditional and digital methods.

Involves the recovery and study of submerged sites using specialized techniques and remote sensing tools.
Techniques like magnetometry and sonar are essential for underwater surveys.

The recovery process aims to document as much context as possible, involving:
- Cleaning and categorizing artifacts based on types and attributes (e.g., materials, shapes).
Extensive classification helps organize archaeological findings and assists with analysis.

Integration of survey and excavation techniques enhances the understanding of historical landscapes.
Continuous publication and analysis of archaeology data contribute to the broader archeological discourse.