Describe your experience conducting a stratigraphic excavation and how you ensure accurate recording of contexts in the field.
Technical
Field Recording
Stratigraphic Interpretation
Attention To Detail
Junior archaeologists frequently lead or assist in excavation units. Accurate stratigraphic recording is essential for interpreting site formation processes and for producing reliable data for analysis and reporting.
How to answer
- Start by briefly describing a specific excavation you participated in (location in South Africa if possible) and your role.
- Explain the stratigraphic principles you applied (law of superposition, recognition of interfaces, reading depositional sequences).
- Detail the methods and tools you used for recording contexts: context sheets, single-context recording, photography (scale and north arrow), measured drawings, total station/GPS points, and sampling strategies.
- Describe quality-control practices you follow: cross-checking levels, peer checks, daily briefings, and how you handle ambiguous contacts.
- Mention how you preserved provenance for finds (bagging, labelling, chain-of-custody) and how you integrate field records into post-excavation databases or CAD/GIS.
- Conclude with a measurable result or lesson (e.g., how accurate recording led to a clear interpretation or avoided misinterpretation).
What not to say
- Giving only high-level theory without a concrete example from fieldwork.
- Claiming you 'just kept notes' without describing standardized recording procedures.
- Overstating use of sophisticated equipment if you lack hands-on experience (e.g., claiming to operate a total station when you haven't).
- Ignoring context conservation, chain-of-custody for finds, or local heritage regulations like the South African Heritage Resources Act.
Sample answer
“On a 6-week excavation near the Western Cape fynbos region, I was the on-site recorder for two 2x2m units. I applied single-context recording to document each stratigraphic unit and used daily context sheets, scale photography with north arrows, and a Leica GNSS for key control points. Finds were bagged and labelled with context number, depth, and date; organic samples were placed in appropriate containers for flotation. I ran daily cross-checks with the trench supervisor to resolve ambiguous contacts, which helped us correctly identify a truncated midden layer that would otherwise have been misdated. All records were digitized into our site database each evening, ensuring no loss of provenance. This process preserved clear associations between artifacts and contexts, enabling reliable radiocarbon sampling and subsequent analysis.”
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