| CONTENTS |
| Single Context Planning & Recording Procedures | |
| Excavation | Clean area |
| Identify limits of uppermost (latest deposited) context | |
| Photo? | Check with supervisor as to need of photograph |
| Planning | Identify number of grid squares in which the feature or deposit lies |
| Take sheet(s) of permatrace from plan file (transparent foil with millimeter grid and five 1m grid points) | |
| Draw surface plan of layer or cut of feature at 1:20 scale, mark with crosses in prepared boxes across how many grid squares the context reaches | |
| Enter initials and date of the day of planning. If you draw more than one plan a day, number them a, b, etc for security reasons, because the order you have drawn them is an important link to check your work in case of doubt. | |
| Context sheet & number | Take context sheet from file (only as many as you need immediately), enter the number and details into the register incl. reference of all grid squares involved. For the ease of checking divide deposits into "layers" and "fills". Add the number to context sheet. |
| Enter context number on plan sheet/s | |
| Take levels | Take levels, mark spot heights on plan, record back-sight and fore-sight readings on reverse of context sheet. |
| Reduce levels to 'm OD' heights. | |
| Organising plan files | Plans are stored in separate grid-square files/divisions, last excavated context being the lowest in pile. Keep a plan matrix (sequence diagram) in front of each grid-square pile. |
| Plan-context relationships | Determine relationships of NEWLY DRAWN context to PREVIOUSLY excavated stratigraphy by overlaying the plans of EACH GRID SQUARE SEPARATELY. |
| Fill in the context number above the just drawn one, but only the one which has a touching relationship in THIS GRID SQUARE. | |
| Fill in the box BELOW in the related context(s) PREVIOUSLY drawn in this grid square. | |
| Add the latest drawn context number to the GRID SQUARE PLAN MATRIX in the plan file. | |
| Give a short description the box to the right: "pit cut, fill 1234" or "gravel layer". | |
| Context sheet | Fill in as many fields as you can, include ALL grid squares. Describe the context in the prompt fields, estimate deposit components (10-100%) or 20/80, 40/60; less than 10% = inclusion: occasional (1-2%), moderate (3-5%)or frequent (6-9%) |
| Work out all closest relationships above this context from the plan matrices of all relevant grid squares. Be aware that there may be other earlier contexts in line, which were not drawn (fills etc). | |
| Fill in your context number in the below-field of relevant earlier recorded contexts | |
| Enter your name and date of record | |
| Finds | Obtain finds bag, 1(-2) labels per bag and enter context number |
| Samples | Obtain sample bag and labels and sheet and sample as agreed |
| Excavation | Excavate context, amending and adjusting description as necessary |
| Mark on plan measured location of Small Find | |
| Take finds and samples to collection point, put small find in collection box | |
| Stick labels with number of excavated context into trench section | |
| Place plan into relevant grid square file and context sheets in num. Order in "to be checked file" | |
| Sections | Draw sections at trench edge, using context numbers pre-labelled from plan excavation |
| Half-section cut features (measured sketch section with compass points at either side) at back of context sheet; draw section line with end points (A, B) on plan sheet. | |
| Add directions (E, W or N, S etc) and the datum level to sections. | |
| Do not mix up: “South section” of a trench is better called “section facing north”. | |
When recording context in relationship to others, the logical step forward is to establish a three-dimensional sequence of separately defined units by drawing the outlines of each context (only once!) within a fixed grid on a separate plan sheet, adding relevant surface heights and distinguishing between real and disturbed edges ('unreal' edges are formed by the limit of excavation or through the intrusion of later features). To avoid mistakes and facilitate the checking of plan overlays it is very important that within a grid square:
The context description is based on geological terms. The record sheet provides prompt fields for compactness, colour and composition given in estimated percentages adding up to 100%. The occurrence of components, either geological, vegetation or artefacts smaller than 10% are listed as inclusions. The thickness of deposits adds important information for the interpretation. The detailed entries and their coding used for Excel and database lists are explained below (see Chapter 2.).
Numbering
At some sites separately numbered pieces of masonry or timber are joined during excavation by an extra number given to their assemblage as a whole, making the single timbers or wall elements recorded on special sheets sub-ordinates to the 'structure' (recorded on an ordinary context sheet).
Sometimes the single masonry or timber pieces of an assemblage receive an extra digit (10001 instead of 101) to make them as constituent components.
This, however, is a deviation from the original idea of 'unstructured' recording. The differently coloured sheets distinguish masonry or timber elements already from the general context description. Assigning 'structure' numbers introduces a higher level of interpretation too early and may turn out premature if detailed analysis comes to a different conclusion of what really once belonged together. It is preferable to make associations in the interpretation, for instance by linking timber uprights to their base plate.
The stratigraphic relationships of contexts are recorded diagrammatically (as shown in Chapter 1.3, Fig 1). Based on the plan overlays, which are sorted by grid-square from the uppermost excavated unit downwards, in the order of recording, the numbers of all drawn contexts are recorded per gridsquare on plan matrices. The latest drawn context number is connected to the immediately above touching context with a line, adding thus to the diagram while excavating down. The newly added number is cross-referenced to the record on previous plan sheets.
On the context sheets the relationships to all contexts that were not drawn, such as feature fills, are added and cross-referenced to previously excavated, overlying contexts. All together form the stratigraphic record of an entire site sequence, called the site matrix or sequence diagram. The Bonn Harris programme 'WinBasp Harris Shell' (WinBasp: al001@mail.rrz.Uni-Koeln.de) and the interactive tool for visualising Harris matrices, ArchEd (http://www.mpi-sb.mpg.de/~arche) help to computerise this record (see also Chapter 2.2).
Based on empirical observations of the recorder the site interpretation is 'basic', i.e. giving a summary of the description: "this is a thick makeup, a thin surface accumulation or a burnt destruction layer". Further you are correlating a pit or posthole cut to their fills, and timber elements to a structure, or give a purpose of a wall, such as foundation, lining, partition wall etc.
Check DAILY on site not only the descriptive record but also the plan overlays with datum heights, and maintain the site matrix during excavation. This is of uppermost importance, because only the consistent record secures a safe basis for reconstructing even the most complicated sequence during analysis.
When checking records make sure that you do not erase or obliterate the original record but cross out and replace what is wrong. In such a way it is possible to trace back the original record if later there should be questions. You are allowed for instance to add notes to drawings; change wrong grid points, correct the stratigraphic sequence but you should not change the context description.
During analysis of site records you may want to add to or reinterpret the site interpretation. If you make significant changes make a note on the context sheet, give a reason for it and add your name and the date.
Crosscheck register against context sheets. Make sure the correctness of:
| Make sure that only the context numbers relevant to the plan of this grid square are filled in, which is different to the relationships on context sheets; they record the summary record of all grid squares including contexts that were not drawn. (This is often not understood correctly). |
The plans should have been arranged on site by 5m grid squares, each square having its separate plan matrix. It helps clarity if the plans are arranged within the grid square in stratigraphic order, as they had been excavated. Starting at the bottom of the sequence, for each square or physically defined area check the sequence using:
Mistakes may occur if successive plans were kept on the clipboard for more than a day and got out of order. It is important on site to encourage excavators to put their records into the “to be checked” file as soon as a context is excavated. If several successive plans are drawn in one day and the date would not clarify number the plans provisionally – just in case to avoid error.
From the plan overlays look out for
The complete site matrix is a summary record of all grid square matrices including also the undrawn contexts. If you want to establish relationships of a particular context e.g. [x], the construction of the complete sequence proceeds in stages:
The earlier you label the photographic record cards with context numbers and an image summary the better – one easily forgets what a photograph meant to show. An Excel list completes the index.
A photographic archive may exist already with individual regulations, if not it is necessary to install a database for the archive, publication and lecturing purposes. You have to create a numbering system for the image catalogue.
A site archive contains normally three types of photograph:
Furthermore possibly:
An inventory list should contain:
The negative number for B & W and CF would have to be added during post-excavation work.
After all original site records have been checked they should be either photocopied or microfiched for the archive. If the records were produced electronically, bare in mind that the disks have to be updated or stored eventually on the Internet.
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