The 5 P's of Archaeology: Lessons From My First Dig

This summer, I had the opportunity to participate in an excavation at an archaeological site. It was a great learning experience as I got exposed to different facets of archaeology, including how to dig at a campsite, how to examine the findings, and the significance of archaeological practices such as radiocarbon dating.

The dig is organized by the Center for American Archaeology (CAA), based in Kampsville, Illinois. CAA’s purpose is to discover and disseminate the unwritten story of earlier Americans’ lifeways, accomplishments and changing natural environment. Specifically, the CAA is working to improve the understanding of the daily lives of Late Woodland people in the Lower Illinois Valley. It is a non-profit founded in 1953 and has been conducting archaeological research and education for more than 70 years. If you would like to support the CAA’s mission of archaeological education, research, and public service, please donate here. 

I have summarized my key learnings below as the 5 Ps of archaeology:

1. Precision

While excavating at an archaeological site, it is very important to be precise and careful. Everyone excavating at a site has the same goal, to learn more about the past, and that can only be achieved if measurements are properly recorded and everyone is on the same page.

If you know that you are not going to be the last person to excavate on a site, you must document all your findings thoroughly. This ensures that the next person is set up for success. For example, before we began digging, we would refer to the notes documented by those who were at the unit before us. Using those notes, we could determine how far down we needed to dig. Similarly, I learned that instead of blindly digging straight down, one must scrape away layers from the surface slowly. This not only helps identify changes in the soil’s color, but also protects the site.

2. Patience 

Despite what movies and TV shows portray, finding a valuable artifact during an archaeological dig is far rarer than one might expect. While it can be discouraging to not find anything, it is important to not lose sight of the big picture. Each person’s contribution helps narrow down the search and provides clues about where to dig. So even if it may feel like no progress is being made, the reality is that all efforts are worthwhile. Coming back empty handed can be just as motivating and strengthens the resolve to explore new areas and try again. 

While archaeology requires patience, it also requires knowing when to stop searching and move on. For example, when an excavation unit did not yield significant finds despite digging through several levels, it would get closed off so we could focus our efforts elsewhere. It can be both mentally and physically exhausting to keep searching in a single spot without success, therefore, it's important to redirect one’s focus.

3. Perspectives

What may seem as an ordinary rock at first glance could hold the potential to reveal something extraordinary about the past. Before deeming anything insignificant, seek out different perspectives and ask others what they think. Sometimes, another set of eyes can reveal what you missed. I learned that archaeology isn’t always about finding one right answer. Listening to different perspectives and ideas can help reach a more informed conclusion.

Never be afraid to seek a second opinion. In archaeology, there are no bad questions. Every question is worth asking if it helps protect and preserve a piece of history. 

4. Protect

Getting the opportunity to excavate is a privilege. It is our responsibility to pick up after ourselves and leave the area undisturbed. We must be respectful to both the site and crew who will come after us. 

Also, we must handle every artifact with care and respect, remembering that each object is a piece of someone’s history and deserves to be preserved. Not only that, these objects have been buried underground for decades, or even centuries, and can be extremely fragile.  If they are broken or damaged, we may lose a piece of our past, and with it, our ability to understand the lives of the people who came before us.  

5. Patterns

If similar findings appear across different excavation units, it may not be a coincidence. These patterns can provide insights into how people once lived, worked, or used the site. For example, If a certain type of material appears consistently throughout a site, it may suggest that those who inhabited the site used it for a specific purpose. 

For example, chert, a type of rock, consistently appeared in many of the excavation units at the site where I worked. Its widespread presence indicated that it was likely a popular material in those times. It is believed that the Early Woodland people used chert to make stone tools, because when fractured, it can form jagged edges that are useful for cutting, scraping, and other tasks.

I loved this experience and am grateful to the CAA for giving me the opportunity to learn about archaeology through hands-on experience. It brought archaeology to life in a way that no textbook could.