The Laboratory
of the Bird Cove Interpretation Centre

The archaeological significance of the Bird Cove region is without question, one of the most important links to our past. In support of this, is the Laboratory that processes all the discoveries that come in from the excavation sites. When artifacts are discovered at the dig site, they are carefully recorded to show the accurate location of each, and they are then transported into the lab, where they are carefully scrutinized.

The site and lab workers are hired from the surrounding communities and take great pride in their endeavors. Under the guidance of an Archaeologist(s) and sometimes a Lab Coordinator, the workers are on task daily.

Notes from a Site and Lab Worker….

Field Work:

Tools used- trowel, spoon, big paint brush, little paint brush, line level, measuring tape, dust pan, utility knife

 

1. Remove sod with a utility knife.
2. Scrape with trowel; don’t dig. Remove soil keeping unit level.
3. There are two levels of soil: level 1- brown peat with a reddish hue, and level 2- dark organic soil that is in and around the dolomite rock.
4. Most artifacts, bone and shells are found in the dolomite rock.
5. To identify artifact , place the trowel tip near the artifact; take it out and identify it; replace the artifact until you are ready to map the unit.
6. Take depth from where the line is level.
7. Measure north to south; east to west. The arrow on the map points North (important).
8. Flakes are not measured until they are utilized, retouched or concentrated,
9. Bone is not measured if its fragments,
10. Shells are not measured if its concentrated.
11. Do surface measurement – 4 corners and center. Do the same for each level.
12. Bone which is preserved by the dolomite rock, is double bagged and tagged.
13. Flakes, shells and bone fragments are done by range measurements in quadrants.

14.There are three forms to fill out for every unit – surface, level 1, and level 2.

15.When all measurements are taken, remove artifact from unit; tag and bag; and send to the lab.

 

A dustpan can be a valuable and useful tool for
collecting artifacts at the excavation site!

Lab Work:

1. Remove artefacts from bags.
2. Place artefacts in strainer and wash soil off with toothbrush; smaller items are placed in a mesh colander when they are washed.
3. Place them on a paper towel with the tag to dry.
4. When artefacts are dry, put a layer of clear nail polish on the spot where the catalogue # is supposed to go.
5. Write on the # starting always with EGBf, then coat with another layer of polish.
6. All items in the lab are measured with callipers.
7. Flakes have to be counted and measured; length, width, and thickness.
8. If there are only 3 flakes, each one is measured; if there are more, the biggest and smallest are measured.
9. Bone and shell cannot be kept in water too long because it gets sift. It is washed and put on mesh to dry.
10. When bone is dry, put it in a paper bag with the tag and all the information is written on the outside of the bag.
11. All artefacts are placed in plastic cases.
12.All information is stored on the computer.
13.Top of artifact is called ‘proximal’; middle is ‘medial’; bottom is ‘distal’.