Field Analysis:Field Interpretation

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Field Interpretation
Interpretation of deposits in the field is an important skill for archaeologists as it informs ongoing decisions about how best to excavate, record and sample at the context and site level. It also guides the development of post-excavation analytical research by providing hypotheses that can be tested.

Understanding the role of soil and sedimentary processes in the development of a site is an important part of field interpretation. The types of questions that may be asked in the field are often context specific, such as:
 * Is this the natural?
 * Is this a buried soil?
 * Does this deposit represent a standstill in the sequence of deposition?
 * Is this a separate deposit or are the differences the effect of post-depositional/post-burial processes?
 * Has this material been affected by bioturbation?
 * Has this material been affected by processes of gleying (waterlogging)?
 * Has this deposit been affected by processes of podzolisation (downprofile movement of iron)?
 * Has this material been affected by processes of clay movement?
 * Has this material been affected by calcification or similar precipitation processes?
 * Is this material the result of natural deposition processes or anthropogenic dumping?
 * Could this material have been deposited by water?
 * Could this material have been deposited by wind?
 * Could this deposit have been deposited by glacial processes?
 * Is this a colluvial deposit?
 * Has this deposit been affected by burning in-situ?
 * Is this a sealed context for environmental sampling?
 * Has this soil/deposit been truncated?
 * Might this deposit have been a floor layer?
 * Has the deposit been deposited in one short-lived event or has it been deposited more slowly over a period of time?

Those questions followed by are included in the SASSA Field Interpretation Tool. Click on the icon to be taken to the field tool login.

As with most archaeological questions it is rare that geoarchaeological queries can be answered with a straightforward yes or no. Interpretation is often an informed best guess made after evaluating all the relevant information. The level of certainty that can be achieved is question and site dependant, but can often be improved by post-excavation analysis if appropriate context records and samples exist.

More information on the SASSA interpretation tool together with printable recording sheets is available here.

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