archaeoWISe.characterization Key Benefits     Small-sized remains     Short-term intervention     Adaptive strategy     Fast implementation     Reliable results

Description

We describe archaeoWISe.characterization as small-scale and short-term interventions. Its main goal is to characterize the remains in archaeological and importance terms, as well as to evaluate further archaeological potential and possible solutions to threats faced by the site. Such intervention is necessary whenever small-scale remains with estimated archaeological potential are discovered in a local development context (building yard, active erosion area, surveying, etc).

Request and preliminary information

In most cases, the information given by the local observers are sufficient to evaluate the necessity of a archaeoWISe.characterization procedure. Transmitting necessary information, ideally with explicit illustration material, can be done by all possible communication means (e-mail, phone, fax). Digital photography is actually the easiest way to give an overview of the remains' nature.

Preparation

Once archaeoWISe gets this preliminary information from a potential customer, we start the development of adapted strategic procedures. If necessary, we consult external specialists and scholar for advice and include their proposals into our strategy. Once the intervention goals are clearly defined, we set up the logistics in terms of workmanship, technical, and material means. Contacts with external laboratory specialists are taken to organize a fast transfer of samples to appropriate laboratories (dendrochronological or radiocarbon dating, sediment analyses, botanical analyses, zoological and other sample determinations, etc).

Implementation

For archaeoWISe.characterization interventions, we usually mandate one archaeologist and one assistant in a specific investigation field (geology, sedimentology, botany,  topography, artifact preparation, architect, draftsman, etc). The small team will be sent as rapidly as possible on the discovery site and immediately start the documentary work for site characterization. In many cases, this procedure takes a few days. In some cases, up to two weeks can be necessary to reach the goals, depending on the archaeological discovery.

Basic procedures applied in the field are:

•     Discovery description
•     Archaeological documentation of selected remains
•     Sampling for dating and analyses
•     Supplementary archaeological testing
•     Preliminary report redaction

During a archaeoWISe.characterization intervention planned for less than 7 days, our team works 7 days per week on a base of 9 daily hours (8 hours in the field and 1 hour journal editing). For an intervention planed to exceed 7 days, our team works 6 days per week.

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Pricing example

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Copyright © 2001 Archaeology Worldwide Intervention Service
Last modified: May 30, 2001