Question

Discuss the basic techniques used to locate archaeological sites and fossil localities.

Answer 1

Reconnaissance is the first step which is used to locate an archeological site and a fossil locality. Reconnaissance helps the archeologists to determine where to study or to locate the archeological site for study. The basic techniques involved in this are:

• Surveys, which include the aerial surveys using satellite pictures, aerial photography and drone surveys, and ground surveys to get familiar with the area, and to get basic information about landscape and possibilities of archeological and fossil evidences from the site.
• Going through the historical evidences present in the sight, as type of soils, or any remains of monuments or other historical evidence present in that site.
• Collecting information from the natives of that place, so that the history of the site could be pictured or assumed on which the study is based.
• Going through the folk legends and folklores regarding that place. As in the past history of any place was passed on by oral traditions, which in with the passage of time became folklores and legends , the archeologists go through these to gain more information about the sites to locate them.