EXCAVATION METHODS AND ITS IMPORTANCE

A POWER POINT PRESENTATION ON ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION METHODS AND THEIR IMPORTANCES

1. JIWAJI UNIVERSITY, GWALIOR DEPARTMENT OF ANCIENT INDIAN HISTORY, CULTURE AND ARCHAEOLOGY SEMINAR PRESENTATION ON EXCAVATION METHODS AND THEIR IMPORTANCE MA – III SEMESTER (AIHCA) SESSION – 2021-23 SUBMITTED TO :- SUBMITTED BY :- Prof. (Dr.) S. K. Dwivedi Prof. (Dr.) S. D. Sisodia Saurabh Rajput 27-12-2022

2. What is Excavation ? In the archaeological terminology, excavation is the process of exposing and careful study and recording of archaeological remains (cultural and biological) beneath the surfaces. This is not just digging by a set formula but a carefully managed process that required constant creative thinking. (Ref : Wendy Ashmore , “ Discovring our past : a brief introduction to archaeology”, pp. 22) Hastinapur excavation Excavation at Turkey

3. Why excavation is important ? As a result of excavation recovery of traces in the form of house foundations, graves, bones, seeds, artefacts both movable or immovable gives an insight of the past human activities, which further adds to our understanding of the history of the region and help us to solve various history related problems. for example - setting chronological issues. Finding cultural traits or establishing connection between different cultures. (Ref : www.britannica.com/science/archaeology/excavation) Iron artifacts at Bhardwaj Ashram NBPW Pot Shards Bhardwaj Ashram

4. Fixing The site for excavation ? choice of a particular site for excavation is not mere co-incidence but based on recommendation of the experts drawing on factors like the result of sudden findings, literary sources, detail study, exploration etc. It worth to notice here that Exploration is the most extensively used way to determine the excavation of a site, there are multiple types of methods employed under exploration, it includes physical inspection, remote sensing, and use of various types of modern equipments for the purpose. (Ref. : K. M. Srivastava , New era of Indian Archaeology, 1982, pp. 33)

5. Artefacts such as this terracotta seal found from the surface led archaeologist to fix the excavation site at Bhardwaj Ashram, Chitrakoot (Ref : B. B. Lal , Excavation of Bhardwaj Ashram, 1979-80)

6. How to prepare for Excavation ? " The experienced excavator, who thinks before he digs, succeeds in reaching his objective in a majority of cases.” (1954:81) Excavation campaign is not less than any Military campaign. It requires military level discipline from Archaeologists. Except his own role he should be able to play the role of a trainer, supervisor and administrator. (1954:131) There have to be a valid purpose in mind before setting up any excavation and all members should be conversant of such goal, The aim could be to resolve any historical problem or to corroborate a historical theory/conception. (1954:135) The leader has to form the team as per the objective of excavation. The requirement of expertise and number can only be decided by the nature of excavation. The team should be confident, having team spirit and full trust in the leader. (1954:135) The Archaeologist must take notice of all factors such as climate, environment, location and accessibility etc of the site. (1954:141) The Archaeologist should have knowledge of other expertise such as Draftsmen, surveyor, foreman and photographers, so that in case of exigencies the excavation work may continued with interruption. (1954:142) (Ref : Sir Mortimer Wheeler, "Archaeology from the Earth”, London, 1954)

7. How to excavate site ? Is there any well defined norm in this regard ? "Archaeologist is a great destroyer , and excavation digging is destructive in nature". -Sir Mortimer Wheeler "We are the only scientists who murder their informants when we question them !“ -Kent Flannery With the above statements from eminent Archaeologists we can discern that Excavation can be a nightmare disaster is not done properly without a planning. Thus, following a predefined norm is vital to achieve the fruitful results after excavations of the site.

8. How to excavate Conti…!! All contents excavated are removed from the ground for further study and destroyed forever by permanently divorcing from their contexts in time and space. This is one of the tragedies of the profession of archaeology. Thus, the ethics of archaeology always insists on minimal excavation and maximum collection of scientific information. Sir R. E. Mortimer Wheeler

9. Instruments required in excavation The list of instruments is completely depends upon methodology used, nature of terrain , situation and objective involved in excavation. Hence, an exhaustive list of required instruments is not possible to produce, it varies as per the nature of the excavation.

10. Dumpy Level Tape, Peg, Mallet, Plumb Bob, Compass Basket, Pick axe, Trovel , Sprit level Peg, Thread

11. Where to begin ? (Selection of Mound) The director of the excavation must have visited the site several time in the past and should fix the excavation of the mound keeping in the view the contour of the map. Sampling : The area where the occupational debris of the mound is maximum will be the next choice of the place of layout a trench. The trench in the highest part of the mound will enable the excavator to determine the earliest time when the site came under occupation. Laying out the trench in the central area of the mound should not be left out. Most important and elite occupation generally located in central part of the occupation. Test Pit : It is the most useful way of obtaining preliminary information on Stratigraphy and cultural history in advance of large scale excavation. This is known as reference point for the dig. Kent Flannery once called them as "Telephone Booth" as giving high specific information of the site.

12. The site plan helps to locate the spots and identify the potential location.

13. Sampling from sites using various advance techniques

14. New Era of Archaeology : There have been wide range of excavation methods in use, some are largely outdated and become part of the archaeological history but some have become more refined and advanced over the period of time and now being utilized all over the world as a norm with slight regional variations suitable to terrain and climatic conditions. Most of the times, there are various methods employed in digging, but the appropriate one varies from site to site and time to time.

15. Stratigraphic Excavation The concept of stratigraphy has been borrowed from another branch of science known as geology. under stratigraphy, archaeologist remove dirt/debris each layer wise. this gives them broad arena of understanding of various deposition over the period of time and each layer suggest of a gap in continuation of the habitation. These strata survive vary largely, depending on the type of location and geology (hilly, lowland, wet, dry, acid, etc., known as the terrain ). Excavation usually requires the removal and permanent dispersal of strata so they can never be re-examined. So the method is also influenced by the need to conserve cultural strata as far as possible. The method is most difficult and cumbersome but holistic in approach. (Ref : www.britannica.com) Mortimer Wheeler had written extensively on formation of strata and importance of its study in Ancient India, 1946

16. Stratigraphic analysis by Wheeler

17. Trenching : Trenching has been used to obtain cross sections of sites and is particularly important in Stratigraphic interpretation because it provides a single, long vertical profile. Trench method is also useful in exposing buildings buried under later structures. Hastinapur Site ( Cred . Arch. Museum, Jiwaji University)

18. Example of Trench, Test Pits

19. Layout of Trenches There are two methods most widely and practically used all over the world. Vertical Excavation Method Horizontal Excavation Method Horizontal Exca . Mohen Jo- Daro , Cred . K. M. Srivastava Vertical trench, British Iron age Hill fort site, Cred : society of antiquary Britain

20. Vertical Excavation " It is a railway time table without a train.” - Sir Mortimer Wheeler (1954:167) The aim of the Vertical excavation is to not expose the site itself but to prepare an index of the site, like the page of the contents of a book. It is very often used for the purpose of knowing the stratification of the site. Archaeologist resort to this kind of excavation to know the sequence of cultural occupation of the site. The area of vertical excavation is generally limited and can only be extended vertically. (Ref : K. M. Srivastava , New Era of Indian Archaeology, 1982, pp. 37)

21. Example of Vertical Trench Credit : Self, Jiwaji University

22. Setting up Vertical Excava …… Selection of a datum point - This is a control point for all future excavation Reference point - This is a universal reference peg which is to be reckon with for any measurement. Method - First draw a datum line and base line with terminal pegs so that reference peg should not be disturbed while extending the area. the lines would fall at right angles. the overall site grid is divided into smaller grids which are parallel to the site base line. (Ref : Archaeology Principles and Methods , K. Rajan )

23. Grid System : Mortimer wheeler introduced "Grid System" In this system the site is laid with a grid of squares with strips of un-dug area (baulk) between them. This type of system gives greater control on excavation and also understanding of cultural sequencing.

24. Locus : II-x cm X y cm – z cm below reference point

25. Horizontal Excavation This is also known as Area Excavation. The aim of this type of excavation is to reveal and understand the detailed planning of the township with its streets and all structure with in its such as shrines, houses, palaces, pools, shops etc. Horizontal excavation leads to complete reconstruction of the cultural pattern of a particular period. Thus, there is no limitation of the area extension.

26. Horizontal Excavation

27. Size of every block can be decided 5x5 or 10x10 mtrs as per the requirement

28. Megalithic Burial Excavation QUADRANT METHOD : This method is very effective in Burial excavation provides both horizontal and vertical cut at the same time. It is Used on any circular feature like barrows post-holes hearths pits Characteristic features of Quadrant Method: - It is quite quick, and less time consuming method. - It involves dividing a feature into quarters and excavating 2 opposing quarters at the same time - This enables stratigraphy in 4 directions. - if nothing of interest is found then there may be no need to dig the rest - if there is something of interest (e.g. part of a skeleton) that is partly under the sections left in place, the remaining quadrants may also be excavated. Circle Pit, Wanganga

29. Ref : Archaeology principles and methods – K. Rajan

30. Burial excavation (Quadrant Method)

31. References : Sir Mortimer Wheeler, Archaeology from the earth, 1954 K. Rajan , Archaeology principles and methods K. M. Srivastava, New era of Archaeology, 1982 Kenyon, K.M. 1964. Beginnings in Archaeology. Atkinson, R. J. C. 1953. Field Archaeology. Ancient India 1946 https://alchetron.com/Mortimer-Wheeler