So much of what archaeology entails occurs outside the view and awareness of the average person, even on a public archaeology program such as the Glenbow Town and Quarry Project. While the perception of archaeology is often one of glamorous locales and the excitement of discovery, much of the work is truly tedious, but nevertheless, essential. Thus, the price I have to pay for the fun of digging in beautiful Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park is that I am now swamped by desk work.

In order to excavate an archaeological site in Alberta, first one must receive a permit from the appropriate government officials. The permitting process alone is daunting, and I would say impossible, without the help of those in-the-know and able to use the necessary technology, since applications require complex maps and access to the on-line permit system. I also needed an extra permit from a different department to work inside a provincial park.

After excavations are completed, the hard work really begins. Firstly, all artifacts must be cleaned and then catalogued, or described in a precise and prescribed manner. This requires a basic knowledge of the type of artifacts one would expect at a certain site, in this case, one dating to the early 1900s. Knowing what numbers to use for the catalogue requires clear communication with the central provincial department responsible for all artifacts in Alberta.  There is a code system for the recording of archaeological sites and each artifact must be individually identified within its specific site.

After all the items have been weighed, measured, and described, the most noteworthy must be photographed. These artifacts include those that can be dated and thereby furnish clues to the age of the site where they were found. In addition, any really unusual or truly typical artifacts are selected for photos. These images are prepared in a particular systematic way that again requires practical knowledge of the appropriate computer programs. After this, the artifacts are packaged, in standardized materials and prepared for shipping to the Royal Alberta Museum.

Next, new site forms must be prepared that include a summary of all the relevant data about the site and artifacts; drafts of these are sent to the government for approval and then they will be included with the final report.

Maps of various sorts must be drafted by people with sufficient expertise in formats and computer programs. This includes something called GIS, or Geographic Information Systems, defined by Wikipedia, is “a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present spatial or geographic data.” The creation of these special maps actually began in the field, when GPS (Global Positioning System) readings were taken with specialized equipment in the hands of someone with technical training and knowledge.

Now, the really hard part begins — writing the report itself. Archaeological reports must provide all the pertinent information in a relatively consistent way. The introductory chapter leads into a summary of the history of the site and all previous archaeological work conducted there. Then the methods of excavation and research used in the current study must be detailed. The results of the study form the body of the report.

A summary of all the kinds of artifacts must be included in the report and this requires crunching the numbers derived from the catalogued artifacts. Endless tables of data are prepared and then discussed in prose. Notable artifacts are chronicled in depth and the relevance of these discoveries must be given. Reference must be made to the artifact images and site maps and catalogue summary tables.

Then interpretation of what occurred during the formation of the site deposits is given, citing the evidence observed or collected. Recommendations for further work at the site should then be rationalized. Finally, a discussion of how the newly excavated site fits into the context of the region and other known sites of similar type is included.

The final step is to pass the whole thing to a trusted editor who can spot any errors in logic or form, before the report is printed and submitted to the government for approval or corrections.

Clearly, the writing of a report, just like the site excavation itself, is dependant upon a team of individuals with specialized knowledge and skills. Although the report may have only one official author, credit is expressly given to those who helped produce it. Honesty, and crediting the work of others is the foundation of scientific endeavour.

All of this reporting is essential to present the data discovered and gathered during a field season of excavation. It forms the permanent record for the site that was, essentially, partially damaged during the dig. This report will be used by future researchers who study that site, or others similar to it. The report forms a vital part of the scientific record and separates real archaeologists, who are scientists interested in the advancement of knowledge, from mere treasure hunters, whose only goal is the momentary thrill of discovery.

This article was originally printed in the BERGEN NEWS and is being reprinted with permission.