Whether you’re interested in prehistoric archaeology or that branch of archaeology that focuses on the prehistoric period—a time when no written records were made—or historic archaeology, you will nd this post on the John Eilermann St. Louis blog site helpful as it provides you with some of the basics of archaeology.

1. Basics of Archaeology
John Eilermann, St. Louis: Basics of Archaeology
Whether you’re interested in prehistoric archaeology or that branch of archaeology that focuses on the
prehistoric period—a time when no written records were made—or historic archaeology, you will nd this post on
the John Eilermann St. Louis blog site helpful as it provides you with some of the basics of archaeology.
Archaeology, a Beginner’s Guide
To understand archaeology, one must rst understand the most common
terms used in the study. Here are a few of them:
Evaluation – inspect the site to determine quality and level of
preservation and whether or not it is signi cant to a particular time,
period or era; or to a subject of study
Excavation – on-site digging; this can take anywhere from a few months
to a year to several years. This process may involve several archaeologists
and other specialists like anthropologists and historians, and equipment
for tracking and documentation like computers.
Find – items or relics that have been discovered during excavation, and
that which are initially considered as signi cant to the study
Layer – materials/sediments deposited during a particular time period,
Age or era
Context – one of the most signi cant clues in an excavation; a distinct
characteristic or layer on the ground speci c to a particular period of time
Stratigraphy – sequencing of discovered items, contexts, and structures to create a visual of the site or to better
understand what went on at the site from how everything got there to who was there, etc.
Next, you need to know the stages of excavation, which are the following:
The 3 W’s: Why, Where, and When. This initial stage may take years to
complete because you need to perform extensive research to determine
why and where. The when is usually determined by how fast you can get
your permits and often, funding.
Excavation. The actual dig. Again, this may take years to complete
depending on a number of factors, from weather conditions to soil
conditions, permit renewals, and so on.
Post-excavation. For archaeologists and everyone involved in the project,
this is the most tedious part of the process as this requires utmost patience
and lots of time and patience because this is the part where every nd will
be analyzed, sorted, and put together to create the site’s narrative.
For excavations, you will need a hard hat, the right shoes (steel-toed boots
are sometimes necessary for commercial excavations), and a high-visibility
jacket. For other eldwork, you may need basic gear like a hat and
sunglasses to protect you from the sun.
Stay tuned to John Eilermann St. Louis blog site to read more about
archaeology and other related topics.
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