Despite the benefits of these sorts of exercises, however, the experience of actually taking part in an archaeological excavation is invaluable, so if you are considering going on in anthropology or archaeology (or even if you just think it sounds like fun!), I would highly recommend attending an archaeological field school. “Field schools” are generally taught over the summer, and provide an opportunity to learn archaeology through hands-on practice while also earning college credits.

Depending on the site and the research question, the strategy may be more oriented toward vertical versus horizontal excavations. In a vertical excavation, the archaeologists dig deep excavation units, sometimes in a “telephone booth” style. This is useful in highlighting the site’s stratigraphy; archaeologists can clearly see the layers of the soil (and the different contexts of site occupation) in the unit walls.

Last, but certainly not least, it is important to consider the legal and ethical perspective. As discussed in Cultural Resource Management and Archaeology, excavation in the United States is regulated under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and associated laws, which require coordination with State Historic Preservation Offices, Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, and other interested parties, including current landowners. You cannot just dig without the appropriate permits! Similar laws exist around the world, and if you are an archaeologist working in another country, it is your responsibility to adhere to any legal requirements surrounding excavation and the treatment/curation of any excavated objects.

While archaeological surveys take place over regions and landscapes (see “Archaeological Surveys and Remote Sensing”), excavation takes place at the level of the archaeological site. But just what is a site? Although the term is widely used, its definition is deceptively complicated. Many in the general public assume an archaeological site must include some sort of ancient monumental architecture, but this is not the case.

Excavation is only a very small part of what practicing archaeologists actually do—and some archaeologists never go near a trowel. Background research, surveying, mapping, lab work, and analysis are all equally important components of the archaeological process.