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DocuSign Envelope ID: 2D970A62 -10C1- 4949 - 9224- E9F2ADB7D568 <br />d. Machine- Assisted Excavation <br />1. Deep Testing <br />In certain depositional environments (alluvial, colluvial, and aeolian), deep testing may be <br />an appropriate methodology to identify and uncover buried cultural remains. A <br />geomorphological study should precede and /or accompany any deep testing program. <br />All trenches should comply with OSHA guidelines for trenching and excavation safety. <br />Trench profiles should be `cleaned' (walls made plumb with shovel and trowel) and <br />inspected for stratigraphy and cultural features. Photographs and a formal profile drawing <br />should be made of at least one wall of each trench. The soil stratigraphy should be <br />documented using USDA soil descriptions and Munsell color codes, and the depth of <br />each stratum should be recorded. All trench locations should be mapped, either with GPS <br />technology or by being tied into an established datum. <br />Deep testing trench excavations may be done in conjunction with coring and augering, or <br />unit excavation within the trenches. For data recovery projects, mechanical stripping may <br />be used to expose soil horizons with intact cultural features identified by deep testing. <br />2. Mechanical Stripping <br />Mechanically stripping the plow zone or natural overburden in an area may sometimes be <br />an efficient way to expose soil horizons which may contain archaeological features. <br />An area should first be examined with subsurface investigations such as shovel tests to <br />ensure the presence and depth of the intact cultural deposits. The area that is stripped <br />should be marked on the project map, and preferably mapped with GPS technology. <br />The machine operator should strip to no closer than 5 cm above the soil horizon of <br />interest, and the remainder of the overburden should be removed by shovel skimming. <br />Exposed features should be treated in a similar manner to those exposed during unit <br />excavation (see Section III, Feature Excavation above). <br />e. Special Analyses <br />When appropriate, special analyses should be used to enhance understanding of the <br />archaeological record by answering specific research questions. These analyses include, but <br />are not limited to: geomorphological, faunal, shell, pollen, macrobotanical, phytolith, blood <br />residue, and absolute dating. As these analyses produce the best results following specific <br />sampling and processing protocols, consultation with the specialist(s) who will conduct a <br />given analysis should take place prior to the initiation of fieldwork activities. <br />IV. Documentation <br />a. Field Documentation <br />The following types of documentation should be used during field investigations: shovel test <br />forms, unit excavation forms, feature forms, field notes, maps, and photography. <br />At a minimum, the information documented on shovel test forms should include a reference <br />to the project (name or number), date of excavation, excavator(s), shovel test location, soil <br />North Carolina Oce of State Archaeology — Archaeological Investigation Standard and Guidelines December 2017) Page 14 <br />