While archaeology can involve both above-ground and buried resources, when people think of "archaeology" the first thing that nearly always comes to mind is the latter; and with it, actual excavation work ... or, if you will, a "dig." And much of the OSA work which FOSA assists the OSA on involves these activities.

There are, in fact, many steps involved in a successful dig, any of which can occupy one or more days and all of which may extend over several weeks depending on the site's circumstances. These are summarized below. The accompanying pictures were taken at a number of such digs, over several years, where FOSA members participated. These should provide a good idea of what goes on at the different stages and in different kinds of sites.

Click on any photo-icon to see its larger image, and to "walk" through the gallery.

Note: The "Field Walk" section isn't really part of formal field work activities; instead, it represents things which anyone may find him or herself doing at any time ... basically, walking around and looking at the ground trying to see what might be there. The photos in this section were taken as a result of walking about a section of farmland which had been plowed, though not recently; while a formal dig was going on in another section. This was done, of course, with the approval of the owner of the land. The artifacts shown were considered archaeologically significant by the dig supervisor, who accompanied the author, as they provide a good indication of what might exist beneath the plowed layer. Their abundance strongly suggested that this field was part of a permanent camping site for Native Americans.

The Field Walk section's photos will be kept separate from the photos associated with "real" field work activities below it.

"Field Walk"
Site Review
Site Location and Geo-Physical Survey
Test Excavations
Grid Layout
Excavate, Level by Level
Screening
What Do We Find?
Laboratory Process And Report Writing
Site Preservation