Screening

Definition

Screening refers to the process of sifting or separating materials during excavation to identify and collect artifacts or ecofacts from sediment. This technique is essential for recovering smaller items that might be overlooked in bulk excavations and helps to ensure a thorough examination of a site. By utilizing various methods, screening can enhance the understanding of site formation processes and the context of archaeological finds.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Screening can be done using different methods such as hand screening, machine screening, or water screening, depending on the size and nature of the excavation.
2. The mesh size of the screen used during screening can significantly affect the types of materials recovered, with finer mesh capturing smaller artifacts.
3. This process not only retrieves artifacts but also helps in identifying ecofacts like seeds, bones, or pollen, which provide insight into past environments and diets.
4. Screening is crucial for maintaining a high recovery rate of artifacts, especially in stratified deposits where items may be dispersed across different layers.
5. By implementing screening techniques, archaeologists can gain a more comprehensive understanding of human activity and site formation processes at archaeological sites.

Review Questions

• How does screening enhance the excavation process and artifact recovery?
  • Screening enhances the excavation process by allowing archaeologists to sift through sediment and collect smaller artifacts that might be missed during bulk excavation. Different screening methods can be employed based on the excavation's needs, which ensures a higher recovery rate of both artifacts and ecofacts. By using screens with varying mesh sizes, researchers can adapt their approach to maximize the types of materials retrieved, leading to a more comprehensive understanding of the site.
• Discuss the relationship between screening techniques and stratigraphy in archaeological excavations.
  • Screening techniques are closely related to stratigraphy because they help reveal the context in which artifacts are found within different sediment layers. By carefully screening sediments from specific strata, archaeologists can associate artifacts with their respective layers, providing valuable insights into chronological sequences and site formation processes. This relationship allows for a deeper understanding of how human activity and natural events shaped the archaeological record over time.
• Evaluate the impact of screening on understanding past human behavior and environmental conditions in archaeological contexts.
  • Screening plays a significant role in evaluating past human behavior and environmental conditions by facilitating the recovery of a diverse range of materials, including small artifacts and ecofacts. The ability to analyze these items helps researchers reconstruct daily life, trade practices, and dietary habits of past populations. Additionally, ecofacts retrieved through screening can inform scholars about ancient environments, climate change, and how societies adapted to their surroundings. Thus, screening provides a crucial link between material culture and broader socio-environmental contexts in archaeology.

Related terms

Stratigraphy:

The study of rock layers (strata) and layering (sedimentation), which helps to understand the chronological sequence of deposits at an archaeological site.

Artifact: Any portable object made or used by humans, such as tools, pottery, or ornaments, that is found during archaeological excavations.

Context: The relationship between an artifact and its surrounding environment, including its location, association with other finds, and the stratigraphic layer in which it was discovered.