Archaeological dig

[sigma]

Where does the material, soil etc. that covers archaeological sites come from. In other words, how do they get buried. ?

[vehelpfulguy]

Well I have watched Time Team for years so my knowledge comes from that.

In terms of buildings, it is normally just the foundations that are left from buildings and they were always underground. Any stone or bricks above ground are usually "stolen" or "robbed out" and then reused in other buidlings.

Many things found underground are related to burials so they were underground anyway.

Early man often lived in dug out pits, and of course once they were filled in what was left in the pit was underground anyway.

Also some sites were used by different people over hundreds or thousands of years, so earth was moved around to provide protection, or to make buildings, and this often buried pots and so on underground.

I think natural earth movement has also buried some things, although I remember Time Team from Turkdean where the floors of the Roman villa were found just inches under the grass after a period of 2000 years.

http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/T/t imeteam/archive/turkdean99.html

[jno]

dust or sand that comes down with rain is a big contributor, over a lengthy period

[Wop/tpo]

Pompeii was buried quickly by a pyroclastic outflow from
Vesuvius to a depth of several feet. The inhabitants were killed by poisonous gases were they were at the time.
At least some of them in the local brothel.

[Octavius]

Sometimes the past gets buried in more dramatic ways, from natural disasters such as volcanoes, mudslides, or hurricanes. When disaster strikes and destroys a town or a city, people will often build newer houses right on top of the old ruins.

Things are getting buried every day, and we may hardly ever notice it: streets get resurfaced, farmers plow in last year's corn stubble, autumn leaves fall, a river floods, a grave is dug, a garden is sown, and garbage is dumped. Keep your eyes open and you may discover how the past is getting buried, minute by minute, day by day, year by year, right on your own doorstep.

[anotheoldgit]

What I always wonder about is why when they find a small piece of pottery, can they not find more of it?

[sigma]

Probably the same reason why when you break a plate or glass, you clean it up then three weeks later you find a small shard under the cupboard.

[Octavius]

Thats archaeology at home that is!

I suppose in many years time future generations will be digging up landfill sites and examining all the naff pink plastic toy parts, or finding a dolls arm and wondering where the rest of it is, but still managing to date it all to somewhere in the 1980's.