Michael LaRong wrote:
>
> Histarchers,
>
>         Hi everybody, my name is Michael LaRonge I'm a grad student at
> Michigan Tech, working on my masters in Industrial Archaeology.  If things
> work out I will be excavating a c.1840's blacksmithing shop at an early
> mining site here in the U.P.  In addition to some excavation my field
> methodology will also include a 100% surface collection of artifacts, at
> the request of the Forest Service Archaeologist in charge of the site,
> since the site rests near a national hiking trail and looting is fast
> becoming a problem.  The site is located along the top of a bluff and it
> seems they may have quite literally shut the doors and walked away leaving
> the building to decay and most of the artifacts on or near the ground
> surface.  My question is this, methodologicaly speaking is it possible to
> have an above ground stratigraphy related to artifacts, and if so how much
> can one rely on it?  For instance, there is probably little stratigraphic
> information to be gained from a stock pile of iron since it was probably
> stacked all at once.  Meanwhile, it is obvious that the same stockpile
> yields perfectly good spatial data on a horizontal plane.  On the other
> hand, how much reliance can one put on a piece of stoneware resting over a
> medicine bottle on the surface?  Maybe some of you folks down in the
> Southwestern U.S. who deal alot with surface finds can suggest somethings.
> I am currently reading an anthology on spatial analysis edited by Ellen M.
> Kroll and T. Douglass Price, but it was suggested to me that I may want to
> ask around for more opinions on the subject.  Any help would be appreciated.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Michael LaRonge
 
Michael,
Consider that if looting has been going on at the site, there is a
possibilty that surface artifacts have been disturbed, and any data they
may represent is fallible. If I were in your shoes, I would avoid basing
solid conclusions on single artifacts collected, but more on the large
scale, ie surface concentrations of domestic goods, or manufacturing
scrap.
 
Just a thought. Good luck!
Margan A. Grover