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As earth is removed, the blackened areas begin to define themselves. We took samples of this material, but were advised that it would probably turn out to be naturally decomposing plant material. The material was never handled by anyone, but instead, gently lifted
out of the ground and placed on aluminum foil.
As the on-site investigator, you should always follow your own hunches with unidentified materials you might find... it never hurts to take a sample that might later turn out irrelevant--- it is, however, impossible to go back, most of the time, and get a sample at a later date. Whether it's an arrangement of stones, or some odd materials---- you'll never see it undisturbed again. Take pictures, take measurements and take samples! You are only seeing 1/3 of the total number of photographs taken during the dig. Most will never be published anywhere, but will be filed with the Texas Archaeological Research Laboratory both in printed and electronic form. Remember too, that the artifacts stay with the landowner, so plenty of pictures, measurements (made with calipers) and scans of them will be made before the work is done. |