Instructions

I have found that it is best to teach about archaeology and its fundamentals inside before going outside.  Show them lots of slides illustrating the terminology and principles, quiz them, quiz them, and quiz them again, so that going outside is a reward, and they are able to use the terminology as they excavate.  You will be able to get media coverage, if you wish, and then your students will be able to impress the interviewer with the archaeological jargon.

Method

1.  Dig two parallel trenches six to twelve inches deep and fifteen to thirty or more feet long.  The length depends on the number of 5 x 5 (or 6 x 6 ) meter squares that you need.  The two trenches should be far enough apart (12 - 14) feet so that your students will hit them while excavating. 

2.  Now excavate trenches that will be perpendicular to the above at the same depth.  This will ensure that your students will strike three or four walls in their square.

3.  Place 2 x 4s or 4 x 4s or RR ties or large stones in the trenches to make up your wall (or foundations).  Plant some artifacts such as pop cans (whole or parts of), coins (I wrap the coins in foil to spot quicker), bones (bodies of road kill), or sherds from your own dig,....   Cover your walls with the dirt of the trenches.  Dig some other holes and plant some additional artifacts.  Leave area alone for a few months to cover signs of your tampering with the earth.

4.  Come back with your students months later. Stake off all corners of your squares. Establish an arbitrary height above sea level for your stakes (your datum point) such as 100 meters above sea level.   Now anytime your students find an artifact or something else and need to plot it on the top plan or find the elevation of the artifact or walls, they have four points of reference.  Use a line level and measuring tape to plot the location and determine the elevation of the walls and artifacts.  

Materials Needed    

Besides line levels and tapes, you will need the following:

String-- in order to string the squares from stake to stake as well as line level string

Mason trowels with which to excavate

Whisk brooms and paint brushes

Dustpans

Buckets to haul the dirt

Clipboards with pencils and graph paper for the top plans

When you have completed your season with your students, you may want them to help you cover the squares again for next year.  Plant some new objects now and maybe dig a few holes around to plant some other artifacts. Time will cover all traces of excavating.  You might want to ask if one of your parents has a bobcat with a bucket to cover all for you.

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