Simulated Excavation Activity

Excavation of SIL 182

Logan Museum of Anthropology Simulation

Archaeologist carefully measuring findings.for mapping the excavated square level.

As Curator of Exhibits for the Logan Museum of Anthropology and Adjunct Professor of Museum Studies at Beloit College in Beloit, WI, the creator of this web site offered an archaeological excavation simulation activity to students in the Beloit Academy Summer Program. Photo by Dr. William Green, courtesy of Beloit College. Note that, beyond the identical tasks assigned, even the ergonomics of participants accurately mimic that of archaeologists in the field as they record the site.

Many 'teachable moments' [i.e. opportunities to provide special insights and/or explanations on a topic that has captured the attention of the students] are generated by this simulation. The modern picnic site level containing artifacts familiar to participants initially causes most questions to be on the processes of measuring, scale drawing, and recording. For example, students record the actual 'soil' type encountered on the form: i.e. "paper" and eventually "carpet" for the lowest prehistoric level. Once the modern level has been recorded, artifacts removed, and the paper level lifted to reveal the well-'excavated' square below, the historic level artifacts and simulated features pose more object -related questions. The students will have seen slide images on archaeological processes for every type of artifact and feature in the prior introductory session illustrated by the slide presentation in the initial classroom session. See examples of these images taken at SIL 182 that illustrate these pages and others at Excavation Methods Slide Shows page.

Museum staff in charge of the 'excavation' are always busy answering questions, many of which can be answered by reminding students of the initial in-class slide presentation images on archaeology. Photo by Dr. William Green, courtesy of Beloit College.

Fully recording the findings on every level in each excavated square is crucial since excavation destroys the crucial original context of the stratigraphy in archaeological sites.

Square level summary sheets completed by a student 'excavator'. This form is returned to the students who 'excavated' each square report their findings in-class during the third session of this school programme. Images of the forms can be read in the PowerPoint slides PDF.

Detailed excavation square level map by the creator of this web site showing findings. See the SIL 182 Slide and page below for more images of the salvage excavation project.

Student 'excavator' square level map with square and level numbers. Although the jagged upper edge of this artifact sketch is not accurate (perhaps in rush to finish?), the scale and general shape of this real stone maul artifact are well-drawn.

Archaeological Lab Work

Simulated Lab Work

Archaeologists Gary Dixon and colleague working in the lab at the [now] Manitoba Museum in Winnipeg, MB analysing artifacts and report documents from another project excavated the same summer as SIL 182.

Map of above excavation being analysed.

Back in the classroom during the third simulation programme session, the maps of the squares drawn to scale by students are posted stratigraphic layer-by-layer in their original relative positions. Each student is given the level summary sheet s/he filled out during the 'excavation', reports on what was found, and how they might interpret them. For the first time rather than being focussed on a single square, during this process students can observe and analyse the associations and activity area patterning of the simulated site just as archaeologists do in the lab.

All of the clean excavation simulation documents shown on this web site are available for copying at Archaeology Excavation Simulation.pdf .

See the following Virtual & Other Simulation Critique page and additional images in the SIL182 Slide Show page.

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