Archaeology, little introduction! 
It is often very difficult to separate the history of archeology. A point to note is that these two disciplines, although independent, can not live without each other and are complementary.
Often stereotypes persist about what archeology: Discovering the dead, the treasures that can happen but those are rare occasions. The sites are not numerous and are generally financed either by private organizations, by universities or by the general council of the region, for a defined period (usually the excavations rarely exceed two months). But no one can undertake a project without the advice and consent of the prefecture. I spare you the details but the legislation is very strict about that. So when searching? Generally, two cases before us:
sites already known, often by historians: we know that such and such town is here or nearly so. We search a few months until one year Money market funds are exhausted, then carefully reburied the whole to return the following year to continue the work. The second case is that of chance: it is not uncommon for private home is located either in the public domain remains. In this case, to the police to intervene (if there is a monetary value in the discovery, 50% goes to the state, the rest to the person who found it). Then from there put in place the excavations.
The money problem is not negligible: the teams, which must feed, house, sometimes pay can vary between 5 to 30 groups of ten people each. In addition, there followed objects after excavation: in fact, what we do, who study them .... etc. Generally, museums are so overwhelmed they refuse artifacts purchasing Objects found during excavations, the example of Egypt is obvious: the only authorized excavations are those financed by foreign countries, the country did not have enough money to take to support the unprecedented amount of artifacts present, often prefers to leave the state or even bury destroy what is discovered.
much for the somewhat "administrative" and breaks up.
But how does one search? There are several methods, but some basic principles are respected: the most important being the tools, that is to say at least a shovel, trowel, the crowbar, the magnifying glass and finally the brush. Obtains the rest with time and experience.
arriving at a project, known or unknown, we first establish a perimeter: 4 bars that are planted around it with a ribbon, used to delineate the area to be searched. Within this zone, other parcels are designated for each team. The first step is
laplus tedious: it is to remove the thick layer of soil covering the site (plus the site is old, it is more profound - although there are exceptions). But all this land is not discarded: put in wheelbarrows, it makes it a lot, which is then passed through a sieve itself passed into the water it can find any small bones, or trace that could be useful in adapting the workplace or any objects to find. Once the moist layer removed (mean when the grass roots have completely disappeared), they dig with a trowel, and sensitively: if someone finds something, a sudden excessive force could destroy everything.
When the object, or the ruins Alternatively the vaults are updated, we leave the "small items" brushes. "One team is designated purpose to analyze all the fragments of earth, wood and other substances around the discovery, to see if is a possible link with (sometimes it can be shards of pottery or even animal bones). Another team she works to identify the object: either art historians or linguists' s there are inscriptions or symboles.Parfois both work together. The tricky part is obviously out of the whole earth without damaging them. To predict possible accidents, and even looting, the site is first fully designed and photographed .... Yes! It spreads a huge sheet of plastic, transparent on everything, and reproduce graphic discovery. It is common practice especially in caves. But it also allows, when recorks late season the site can continue to work on it as it appeared at actual size.
This is very theoretical, because all the techniques are evolving to climates, environments, regions, type of materials studied. But the main plot remains the same. Last
techniques have changed dramatically. Today ultrasound spread more and more (when funding permits): one does more to look bored by history the location of sites, just minutes following a machine to send land a computer chip that sends a 2D or 3D image of the composition of the soil. Like that, teams can cover much larger areas in less time.
However, if the archaeological finds its origins in the 16th century (at the time lespremiers fossils were found), 19 centuries deserve special attention. At that time, Egypt was to honor, and it does not dig, but it exploded with dynamite the largest sand compact, then clean with a brush that was left. That tells you about the wonders that we see today all that was destroyed. But in a sense, normal, over time the technical advance, but the laws also, and I want to say unfortunately, because search is becoming increasingly difficult to access already for novices, and even for the most Experienced face drastic administration.
much for a brief, incomplete, I agree. There are still much to say myself I would have more personal experiences to share. But I also expect your own, and even your questions or reactions.
While all of you. Article
Vincent whom I thank for the division, and if this artcicle you interested and want to discuss visiting him on his very young forum History and Archaeology: The story to this.
