Introduction

“Excavate” means removing earth carefully to find buried remains. However, there are little who know how archaeologists find the remains. Recently, excavations in Hatanomae-Higashi Site (Ueda, Seika Town) have been completed. The pictures taken there show the flow of excavation in Japan.

 

Phase 1:Survey

At first, archaeologists survey the land, record its’ use, and mark off the excavation area.

 

Phase 2:Remove Surface Soil

With a power shovel, they removed the recent surface soil to reveal remnants of “vestiges” left from the past.

 

Photo1: A power shovel enters the site! The staff at the site are getting excited.

Photo2: It is a miracle that the power shovel can scrape soil off delicately with such a big shovel.

 

Phase 3:Dig

Staffs dig soil carefully and seek some “vestiges” from life of the past. If they dig too much, the site would break, so actually, there is only one chance to try and excavate a site.

 

Photo3: Is it a vestige of a pillar? When archaeologists find a part in which the color differs from others, they put a mark on the area by using spray paint to dig easily.

Photo4: Rain makes excavations harder! The site gets muddy.

Photo5: They scrape the surface of the site and look for difference places of colors. They won’t lose to the summer heat or the winter cold…

Photo6: When a vestige of a hole that ancient people buried is found, staff dig there deeply to fully check. Sometimes they find earthenware.

 

Phase 4:Record and Take a Photograph

Archaeologists correctly record their finds in a map with a surveyor. Then they take some photos of the site.

 

Photo7: A staff member takes a photo from high scaffolding. It is necessary to take a photo of the whole site, so staff cut weeds and tidy up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is it finished? …To tell the truth, no.

Phase 5:Organize and Write a report

Archaeologists organize the data and remains found from the site and write a report.

 

 

 

Location: Hatanomae-Higashi Site

Author: Seika Town

In Cooperation with: 株式会社文化財サービス