Shovel Testing

Archaeologists sometimes dig a series of small holes called “shovel tests” to find artifacts and sites in an area and to examine the soils. Shovel-test surveys can help to determine whether sites are present, to define their nature and extent, and to assess how they relate to local landforms, laying the groundwork for future work. Here MVAC Research Intern Cindy Kocik explains how archaeologists do shovel testing, what equipment they need, what they look for, and how they record their work in the field.
Shovel testing involves digging small holes about 30-50 cm (12-20 inches) in diameter through the upper layers of soil, down to “sterile” subsoil that has no potential for containing archaeological sites. Shovel tests are especially useful in places where the ground surface is covered, such as in woods or pasture. In the La Crosse area, shovel tests are often 30 or 40 cm (12 or 16 inches) deep, but they can go down 1 m (39 inches) or more depending on the landforms and soils. Digging shovel tests at regular intervals, such as 15 m (~50 feet) apart in a grid pattern, helps archaeologists systematically survey an area. The soil from each hole is screened, usually through ¼-inch hardware mesh, to find artifacts that could indicate a site is present. Mapping the locations of all the “positive” shovel tests where artifacts were found helps to define the extent of the site. Records of negative tests where no artifacts or sites were found, also help in future planning.
Here's what the video covers, and some links for further information:
Timecodes
00:00
00:04 - Introduction
01:38 - What We Need
04:11 - What We Might Find
05:40 - How We Dig and Document
10:28 - Summary and Resources
Links to useful MVAC webpages:
-Flakes: www.uwlax.edu/...
-Pedestrian Survey: www.uwlax.edu/...
-Shovel Testing: www.uwlax.edu/...
-Tool Kit: www.uwlax.edu/...
Links to useful MVAC videos:
-Characteristics of an Artifact: Chipped Stone - MVAC video on KZbin describing how to identify chipped stone artifacts such as flakes, a common find in shovel tests: • Characteristics of an ...
-Cultural vs Natural: Chipped Stone - MVAC video on KZbin showing how to tell the difference between culturally worked and naturally broken stone: • Cultural vs Natural: C...
-MVAC 2017 Public Field School - Munsell - MVAC Video on KZbin demonstrating how to take a Munsell reading in the field: • MVAC 2017 Public Field...
-Vertical View: Archaeology in Profile - MVAC video on how archaeologists record study profiles: • Vertical View: Archae...
Reference
-Dudzik, Mark J., Joseph A. Tiffany, and Katherine P. Stevenson
2012 Guide for Public Archeology in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Archaeological Survey. Available online at wisarchsurvey.o....
Artifact Identification
Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse works mainly in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa and can provide information related to that region. If you would like information on artifacts, email a description of the item and where it was found, and attach a picture of the artifact with a scale to show its size. For more information visit MVAC’s website at: www.uwlax.edu/....
For information on other regions, we suggest contacting the appropriate state archaeologist from the following list: sites.google.c....