In an eMail from 13.06.98 14:42:42 MEZ, Ed Jelks wrote:
 
Whilst agreeing with most of what you say, I would like to take up just two
points:
 
you say
 
<<       Thus a proper excavation design consists of two phases: (1)
exploratory
 probing to determine a site's structure, and (2) dissection of the
 individual structural components once they have been identified.
 Successive episodes of probing and dissection are necessary as detailed
 knowledge of a site's structure unfolds during its
 dissection/excavation. >>
 
What is "exploratory probing"  and why do you need it? Isn't it rather timid
and counter productive? Surely the "determination of  a site's structure"
takes place DURING (stratigraphical) open area excavation. Exploratory probing
destroys evidence and only tells you about the of the site at that point and
nowhere else. It also leaves an ugly hole in the excavation, which according
to your method was dug by arbitrary levels ("not scientific field procedure")
and thus cannot be reconstructed!
 
<<       The Harris Matrix is one effective way of recording
 stratigraphic/chronological data.  But it is equally important that
 horizontally discrete components be isolated for individual excavation
 and observation. >>
 
The Harris Matrixs is capable of recording ALL the OBSERVED stratigraphic
data. "Horizontally discrete components" or any other components for that
matter have both stratigraphic and non stratigraphic characteristics. All
their Stratigraphic characteristics MAY be recorded in Harris Matrix form. All
the non-stratigraphic data MUST be recorded in some other way.
 
David I Bibby