Society Activities
Texas Archeology Academy
Curriculum Outline
Texas Archeology Academies
Archeology 101 Curriculum Outline
Introduction to archeology, goals, objectives
How to recognize an archeological site
Identifying the signs of the past
Lithics, ceramics, bone, shell, burned rock, burned clay,
historic materials
Survey and site recording
Why do we record sites?
How to record an archeological site
Assigning unique designation: site number, name
Recording the site position
Global Positioning System
United States Geological Survey maps
Aerial photographs
Describing the site
Mapping: pace and compass; aerial plotting
Assessing the depth
Assessing its temporal position
Assessing its cultural place
Composing narrative description
Photography and photo logs
Test excavations
Why test a site since testing destroys archeological deposits?
Is testing the best way to answer questions about a site?
Are there a clear goal and a clear exit for the testing? Do we have the
resources needed for completion? Can we handle the excavated materials
responsibly? Can we afford to properly and permanently curate resulting
materials?
Choosing a strategy for test excavations
Shovel testing
Test units
Small blocks
Choosing a place to test
Locating test pits on site map
Permanent datums and grids
Controlling depth (vertical control)
How to record and handle features
Sampling strategy
Size of test pit
How to lay out a meter square
Screen size
Flotation and fine screening
Excavation methods and procedures
Preserving context
Field sack log
Collection methods
Method of excavation
Natural levels
Arbitrary level
Sampling: What to collect and how much
Recording excavation
Field journal
Written narrative
Recording detail
Photographic record
Digital record
Laboratory methods
Lot numbers and inventory: cross-referencing field sack
numbers
Laboratory processing
Preservation of delicate materials
Packaging: proper curation standards
Assessments and recommendations
Assessing and interpreting the results
What was the significance of the test
How can the site expand our knowledge about Texas archeology
Writing a report to file and publish
Protecting important sites
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