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The Construction and Uses of a Laboratory Archaeological Site

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

John H. Chilcott  and
James J. Deetz
John H. Chilcott
Affiliation:
University of California, Santa Barbara, University, California
James J. Deetz
Affiliation:
University of California, Santa Barbara, University, California
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Abstract

In view of the demonstrated value of small-scale site replicas to archaeological field training, a full-scale experimental site was constructed and shown to be of value in training personnel in archaeological techniques and in investigating various problems of archaeological field procedure. This site, built on the Santa Barbara campus of the University of California, was excavated by student groups ranging from junior high school through college who had differing amounts of previous field experience. The effect of age and experience on recovery efficiency and depth of interpretation was studied, as well as the reactions of students to excavation of an artificial construct, and in the case of those with no previous experience, to archaeological field work in general.

In addition to that section of the site devoted to problems connected with instruction, a section was designed to investigate a series of relatively simple methodological problems. Problems of stratigraphy, seriation, and relationship between size of artifact, soil color and texture, and excavation technique were investigated, with successful results. Such a site has great utility in field instruction, where its superiority over certain natural sites can be demonstrated, and in controlled investigation of various excavation and interpretive techniques. Such a site is relatively easy to construct, and the Santa Barbara laboratory site is now a continuing project.

Type
Research Article
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 29 , Issue 3 , January 1964 , pp. 328 - 337
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 1964

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References

Orr, Phil 1943 Archaeology of Mescalitan Island, and Customs of the Canalino. Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Occasional Papers, No. 5. Santa Barbara.Google Scholar
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