I totally appreciate your concern for context, Ron. That is a serious 
concern for me as well, and that concern is really what prompted my post. I 
wouldn't rely on heavy equipment if I didn't feel that it was absolutely 
necessary in this situation. However, Mike has hit the nail right on the 
head. Although I don't feel that it's a good idea to go into too many site 
specific details, I'll suffice it to say we are working within some real 
time, money, and crew constraints. Not to mentions that this area is 
notorious for being home to some pretty brazen collectors with Bobcats. So, 
we are looking to be able to record and collect as much detailed information 
as possible (again, I agree, context IS key) as effectively, efficiently, 
and safely as possible. Therefore, I'm hoping that there are a few of you 
HISTARCHer's that might be able to offer some advice, insight, or 
methodology that could aid in data collection.

Sincerely,
Jane


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, March 12, 2006 10:38 PM
Subject: Re: Urban archaeology methods question


> While I can appreciate Ron's appeal to detailed excavation methods, much 
> of
> what one can and cannot do in urban excavations is entirely situational. 
> If
> you have lots of time and lots of money, detailed work is, hands down, 
> most
> important.  That is not usually the case, though, and you have to opt to 
> get the
> highest return for the effort.
>
> We had a situation in Ogden some years ago where we were allowed only a 
> week
> or so to excavate up to 25 privies, ash pits and cultural midden areas in 
> a
> late 19th-early 20th Century residential area.  We put a lot of effort 
> into it,
> but used heavy equipment where we could to expose and dig around the 
> perimeter
> of identified features. We were kicked off of the site before we could 
> finish
> and ended up leaving many privies unexcavated.  They were subsequently
> bulldozed for construction.
>
> While you want to control the context of the data you reteive as much as
> possible, time and money will end up dictating, to some degree, what you 
> can and
> cannot do.
>
> Mike Polk
> Sagebrush Consultants
> Ogden, Utah
>
>
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