Virtual Dig Worksheet

Archaeology Lab

Open the Virtual Dig icon. If the computer does not ask if you’ve already started an excavation database, go to “New” and name a new database. Now, read the background information about the Middle Paleolithic and Combe Capelle.

1) What would you like to learn about Combe Capelle through further excavation? Keep this in mind as you continue through the game.

Now, go through the menus, starting with “Setup.” The program should be done in order, starting with Setup, continuing down the submenus, and then into the Excavation section, continuing down the submenus again. Do not continue past the Excavation section for now! Answer the following questions as you go along.

2) Describe your crew and why you chose them. How much did you pay them? What specialists do you have? Why?

3) In the “Plan living expenses” section, what have you chosen, and why?

4) In the “Set excavation methods,” what type of excavation methods have you chosen? Why? What might be some problems with your methods? What might be lost?

5) In the “Equipment and Supplies” part of the budget, what types of equipment do you see as most important? Does it make sense, given you excavation methods?

6) In “Place excavation units” where are you placing your units? Why? Did you use random, random stratified, or nonrandom sampling strategy? Why? How does your sampling strategy match with the local topography?

7) Print out the full budget on the HP 2200 printer, by going to “Submit budget for review” and printing the image—be sure you choose the HP 2200, or you’ll get a solid sheet. Attach this to your answers. Then turn the budget in for review. Was it accepted? What comments did the reviewers make?

8) In the Excavation portion of the program, purchase supplies, and dig, starting with the manual format. Be sure that you map your artifacts!! To check, go to the notebook, and see if there are any artifacts drawn in your map. Are you using natural or arbitrary levels? How deep?

9) When you excavate, you may dig in “Manual” mode or “Automatic” mode. Try both. What are the differences?

10) When you are done digging, use the “Plot excavated artifacts” function to look at the different distributions of artifacts. Interpret these findings. Does distribution change by level? Is there patterning of artifacts across the site? What does it mean? Feel free to print out the different maps to illustrate your points, again on the 2200.

11) Now that you have excavated and plotted your artifacts, would you like to put in more units? Was there anything you felt could have been improved about your research design? Treatment of workers? What did you learn about the ancient inhabitants of the site? Did you answer the question you asked in #1?