Diggin' for Data
Research at the Brown Site: 41KR21

 
The Lab Work
As part of the lab process, all artifacts need to be measured and weighed.
Weighing is straight forward enough--- weigh each artifact, in grams, on a triple-beam balance. A used triple-beam balance can be found for under $25--- try eBay!

Measurement of artifacts is done with a caliper (here shown in its protective case):

After washing and drying the artifacts, carefully use the calipers to measure length of the artifact as well as thickness at the tip, mid-section and base. Doing these measurements allows a person to get a sense of the heft of a piece without having to actually have the ability to personally see it. Calipers are not an expensive tool and usually can be found at hardware stores for under $15. Digital calipers are slightly easier to use but much more expensive. If you are finding whole bones and teeth, measure them also!

Photographic work is also needed to complete the process. Either use a good camera to do the job, or try scanning your artifacts, with a ruler, at at least 300 dpi. Most archaeologist use cameras for the job, but a decent scanner can be had for under $100, while a good camera can cost you in the thousands of dollars. If you use a camera, you'll need a tripod, and preferably, a "light box" created for the purpose of shooting pictures of objects. An inexpensive light box can be bought off of eBay for as little as $50, including the lights! A ligth box is an extremely useful item to own!
Here's a shot of a light box that runs about $100:

Note that you can use different colored material in the box to provide more contrast between the artifact's color and the background. Be sure to use a centimeter ruler to record the length of the artifact.

Artifact and Unit/Level Summaries follow.......

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