Locating archaeological sites - created from Mind Map

FieldworkArchaeologists walk over an area looking for scatters of finds.  e.g. pottery, worked stones, any minor changes to the surface.

Chance/Accidental discoverye.g. Construction of buildings, roads, railways, dams, the laying of pipes, ploughing of agricultural land, during mineral extractions

Aerial photographyThe most efficient and productive method of finding a site. Done in three ways:·         Crop mark sitesCaused by differences in the amount of moisture in the soil. Buried features (e.g. Roads, walls, foundations, etc.) mean a greater depth of topsoil beside features than around them. Crops on top grow stunted and ripen earlier than on the side.·         Soil mark sitesBecome visible because of different coloured soils. Remains of a site may be different material to the soil around it. When brought to the surface soil will appear a different colour to surrounding soil·         Shadow sitesVisible when a site is photographed either in the morning or evening. Earthworks or stone walls cast shadows, betraying the presence of a site.

GeophysicalResistivity surveying - Based on the principle that underground features such as walls have a high resistance to an electric current, whereas as features such as ditches or pits have a lower resistance - Probes are placed into the ground and the resistance to the current is measured Magnetic surveying - Detects the difference in the magnetic field of the soil by using a magnetometer - Walls, fireplaces and objects as well as areas of burning cause the normal magnetic alignment of particles to change - Method is often used in underwater archaeology

Written and oral recordsArchaeologists use written records, myths or stories to locate sites.

Locating archaeological sites