Survey Techniques
Survey: Archaeological site surveying is the process of locating and initially evaluating sites in a given area.
There are 11 main steps in archaeological surveying:
1. Preliminary research
2. Selection of sampling design
3. Identification of sites
4. Precise locating and recording of their position
5. Assignment of designating code
6. Basic recording of the characteristics of sites, including topographic characteristics, major environmental features, vegetational cover, cultural features and surface collections, direction of exposure, and degree of disturbance
7. Basic recording of subsurface features where possible, including soil types, depth and nature of cultural deposits, stratification, and geology
8. Assessment of the significance of each site and its suitability for further investigation or excavation (related to a particular theoretical problem at hand)
9. Assessment of the likelihood of future disturbances or destruction at each site
10. A synthesis of information about the survey area at large, including predictions about the site population, site densities and clustering, and most frequent environmental associations
11. Description of the overall impact of development on the total site inventory or the area (if a salvage situation) and general recommendations concerning future research
Sampling Design
Judgmental Sampling: Units of study are selected on the basis of the researcher's opinion of the relative "productivity" of different areas.
Probabilistic Sampling: Samples are obtained by random or systematic selection of sampling units.
There are four main types of probabilistic sampling:
1. Simple Random Sampling: Each sampling unit in the entire field is numbered, and a certain percentage of units will be selected using a random number table
2. Systematic Sampling: The first sample unit is selected using a randomizing procedure, and all other units are chosen by a predetermined procedure (every fifth unit)
3. Stratified Systematic Sampling: The survey area is stratified into subclasses with each subclass serving as an independent universe; systematic sampling is then conducted within each independent universe
4. Stratified Random Sampling: The survey area is stratified into subclasses with each subclass serving as an independent universe; random sampling is then conducted within each independent universe
Methods of Surveying
Transects: Crew members arrange themselves in linear survey units across the landscape and walk over the region to be investigated.
Quadrats: The universe is gridded to define the sample units on the ground, and these equally sized units are called quadrats. Examination of surface material is conducted within each of the quadrats selected by the sampling design being used.
Methods of Information Recovery
1. Surface Inspection/Collection
2. Shovel Test: generally a 10-x-10-cm hole
3. Test Pit: generally a 1-x-1-m or 2-x-2-m excavation unit
4. Observation: soil description, vegetation description, proximity to water, etc.