Excavation is the scientific way and method of removing objects and uncovering stationary features that have been concealed by later deposits. In other words, excavation is the removal of the matrix in order to discover and retrieve archaeological data from beneath the ground, thereby revealing the three dimensional structure of the data and matrix both vertically and horizontally.

1. METHODS OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL
EXCAVATIONS
Exploring the Past Through Digging
BY
Dr. Rajiv Kumar Jaiswal
Assistant Professor
Dept. of AIHC & Archaeology
Vasanta College for Women
KFI, Rajghat Fort, BHU, Varanasi

2. INTRODUCTION
• Excavation is the scientific way and method of removing objects and
uncovering stationary features that have been concealed by later
deposits.
• In other words, excavation is the removal of the matrix in order to
discover and retrieve archaeological data from beneath the ground,
thereby revealing the three dimensional structure of the data and
matrix both vertically and horizontally.

3. • An Archaeological excavation is usually complicated and
painstaking process. There are many reasons for carrying out
archaeological excavations and many ways to determine the
appropriate techniques to apply in the field.
• In this topic a wide range of excavation techniques are reviewed.
Some are largely outdated and some have modified to suit the
present need and become part of archaeology’s history.
• It is very difficult to demarcate any specific techniques as the sites
are formed in ecological, geological and geographical settings.

4. • Mortimer Wheeler said “The experienced excavator, who
thinks before digs, succeeds in reaching his objective in a
majority of cases”.

5. AIMS
• The aim of excavation is to identify, define, uncover, date and
interpret each archaeological context of a site by understanding
the transformation process in a given environmental condition.
The re-construction of the site usually goes in reverse order.

6. •Research oriented excavation
•Rescue excavation
OBJECTIVE

7. PRINCIPLES OF EXCAVATIONS
• The following are some of the common rules complied in the excavation:
Check the limit of the digging area.
Ever watchfull changes in soil texture
Always loosen a small amount of soil with a trowel/pickaxe or other
appropriate tool
Use soft hair brushes for cleaning the surface and use paint brushes to
clean cavaties.

8. CONT…..
When a change in soil texture, colour, pottery type and architectural
feature are identified, stop the excavation. Clean the area again and
record the new layer.
Maintain the baulk and the section sharply
Always scrap the section from top to bottom
Do not trust your memory, write everything down on the field note
book.
Each pick of the earth, soil sample, potsherds or any other objects has
to be properly recorded, documented and labelled.

9. CONT….
Potsherd has to be sent to the pottery yard with proper label where the
pottery
Carry the excavation till natural soil is identified.
Every features has to be drawn on a graph sheet with clear scale and
direction.
Every features has to be photographed.

10. TYPES OF EXCAVATION
• All excavation methods can be placed under two heads namely:
1. Vertical excavation
2. Horizontal excavation

11. VERTICAL EXCAVATION
• Vertical excavation is primarily to reveal the vertical and temporal
dimensions within archaeological deposits, the depth, the sequence
and composition of burial data. In other words, vertical excavation is
the one used to reveal the total cultural deposit of a site.
• Unlike horizontal excavation, which focuses on uncovering a wide area
at a single level, vertical excavation involves digging downward
through the layers of the earth in a controlled and systematic manner

13. CONT….
• Vertical excavation allows researchers to uncover the stratigraphy of a
site, revealing the sequence of deposition and the changes that have
occurred over time. This method is particularly valuable for
understanding the cultural, environmental, and geological history of a
region and for reconstructing past landscapes, activities, and lifeways.

14. HORIZONTAL EXCAVATION
• Horizontal excavation, also known as open-area excavation or
broad-surface excavation, involves digging across a wide area at a
single level rather than digging vertically through layers of
sediment or soil.
• Horizontal excavation is a type of clearing excavation of large
squares to reveal the horizontal extent of the site while preserving
a stratigraphic record in the Baulks left between trenches.

15. CONT….
• Horizontal excavation facilitates the systematic recovery of artifacts,
ecofacts, and other archaeological materials distributed across a site. By
excavating a wide area, researchers can collect a large quantity of data
that provides insights into past human activities and behaviors.
• While horizontal excavation does not involve digging through layers of
sediment, it still requires careful recording and documentation of the
spatial relationships between different features and deposits. This helps
archaeologists and researchers reconstruct the site's history and
interpret its significance.
• Overall, horizontal excavation plays a crucial role in various fields by
providing access to subsurface information, uncovering archaeological
remains. Its importance lies in its ability to gather comprehensive data
about the past

18. GRID EXCAVATION
• Grid excavation is a methodical approach to excavation that involves
dividing a site or area into a grid of smaller sections, typically squares or
rectangles, and systematically excavating each section. The purpose of grid
excavation is to ensure thorough coverage of the site while maintaining
precise spatial control over the excavation process. This method is
commonly used in archaeology, geology, and environmental sciences.
• Grid excavation involves setting up a systematic grid pattern over the area
to be excavated and then carrying out the excavation process according to
this grid.
• Recording finds and features within grid squares is a crucial aspect of grid
excavation

19. Baulk

20. CONT….
• Datum Point: The datum point is a point
established on an archaeological site from which all
measurements of level and contour are taken
• Datum Line: The north-south line/longitude line/
true meridian or x-axis
• Base Line: East-west line/latitude line/ y-axis
The Datum Line and the Base Line are the arbitrary
lines intersecting each other at right angle on the
ground from which all further measurements are
taken

21. QUADRANT METHOD
• The Quadrant method is the modified version of the
grid system for excavating circular fatures like
megalithic stone circles and stupas.
• Small mounds or circular burials have been
successfully excavated by this methods.
• The Quadrant method involves of dividing the mounds
into four segment and leaving baulksstanding between
them.
• The Baulk becomes a triangular wedge-shaped strip of
earth.
• It involves dividing the excavation area into smaller,
manageable units called quadrants or grid squares,
each of which is systematically excavated and
documented.

22. TRIAL TRENCHES OR SONDAGES
• Trial trenches, also known as evaluation trenches or test
trenches, are a common technique used in archaeological
fieldwork to assess the presence, nature, and extent of
archaeological remains within a specific area or site. They are
typically employed as a preliminary investigation before
larger-scale excavations

23. THANK YOU