Abstract
Simulating trial trenches for archaeological prospec-
tion: assessing the variability in intersection rates.
In this study we draw attention to the inherent variability
in the results of trial trenching, when taking into account
the countless variations in orientation and positioning of
trenches. Grids of trial trenches were simulated time and
again on the excavation plans of 16 archaeological sites
from Flanders, Belgium. Orientation and positioning of
the grid layout was shifted randomly, whilst the area cov-
erage varied from 2,5 % to 80 %. The intersection rates
of the archaeological features allow to gain more insight
in trends and variability that are inherent to the chosen
design of trial trenches. It is assessed how robust a cho-
sen grid layout performs on (multi-period) archaeological
sites and how variable these results might be. The most
effective layout appears to be a grid with short, parallel
and discontinuous trenches or a standard grid, closely
followed by 2m wide continuous trenches. Implement-
ing 4m wide trenches reduces the effectiveness of the lat-
ter method substantially. When the area coverage of the
trenches is below 10 %, the results of the archaeological
prospection become unreliable and can potentially lead
to a substantial over- or underestimation of the actual
feature density on the site.
tion: assessing the variability in intersection rates.
In this study we draw attention to the inherent variability
in the results of trial trenching, when taking into account
the countless variations in orientation and positioning of
trenches. Grids of trial trenches were simulated time and
again on the excavation plans of 16 archaeological sites
from Flanders, Belgium. Orientation and positioning of
the grid layout was shifted randomly, whilst the area cov-
erage varied from 2,5 % to 80 %. The intersection rates
of the archaeological features allow to gain more insight
in trends and variability that are inherent to the chosen
design of trial trenches. It is assessed how robust a cho-
sen grid layout performs on (multi-period) archaeological
sites and how variable these results might be. The most
effective layout appears to be a grid with short, parallel
and discontinuous trenches or a standard grid, closely
followed by 2m wide continuous trenches. Implement-
ing 4m wide trenches reduces the effectiveness of the lat-
ter method substantially. When the area coverage of the
trenches is below 10 %, the results of the archaeological
prospection become unreliable and can potentially lead
to a substantial over- or underestimation of the actual
feature density on the site.
Original language | German |
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Title of host publication | Funde in der Landschaft. Neue Perspektiven und Ergebnisse archäologischer Prospektion |
Subtitle of host publication | Tagung in der Fritz Thyssen Stiftung, Köln, 12.-13. Juni 2017 |
Editors | C. Wohlfarth, C. Keller |
Publisher | LVR - Amt für Bodendenkmalpflege in Rheinland |
Pages | 115-134 |
Number of pages | 20 |
ISBN (Print) | 9783982039916 |
Publication status | Published - 2018 |
Publication series
Name | Materialien zur Bodendenkmalpflege im Rheinland |
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Publisher | LVR - Amt für Bodendenkmalpflege in Rheinland |
Volume | 26 |