1). Once a site has been identified, it is sealed off from the general public. This is to ensure that no damage to the site takes place and that the artifacts are not removed.

2). The site is then prepared for and archaeological dig. This is a slow and painstaking job.

3.) Those taking part in the dig must work with major care to avoid missing or breaking tiny fragile artifacts.

4.) At first the topsoil is removed. Then the site is divided into different squares.

5.) A site grid is drawn, with each square in the grid given a number and a letter. The exact location of any artifact that is found is clearly marked on the grid.

6.) The trowel is the main tool used for extraction. Archaeologists remove small amounts of earth at a time. The earth is then placed into a sieve in order to separate the soil from the stone and any object that may be dug up.

7.) Each stone, piece of wood or object is carefully examined to see if they have been shaped or if they belong to any object that may be dug up.

8.) All objects are then cleaned with a small brush.Some times toothbrushes are used to remove hardened soil from artifacts.

9.) Photographic scales are placed next to a large object in order to judge the size of the object. The object is then photographed before its removed from the site.

10.) Once the artifacts are removed from the site archaeologists will use many different kinds of experts to help the discover more about these finds.

11.) A process known as carbon-14 dating is used to tell the age of an object. All living things contain a chemical called carbon-14.

12.) When a living thing like a person, animal, plant or tree dies the amount of carbon 14 decreases allowing archaeologists.

	Created by Falonne Mb over 12 years ago

Junior Cert History Note on An Archeologist On A Dig, created by Falonne Mb on 10/16/2013.