On rural sites, the soil is taken off to the natural subsoil. Archaeological features usually show up very clearly as darker or lighter patches. Urban sites are more complex owing to the continued reuse of the land over many generations. After stripping, the site is cleaned using hoes or shovels to produce an even surface in which features can be seen. These are then hand-excavated using a combination of mattocks, shovels and trowels.
Experience is the key to deciding which tool is the most appropriate for the job.
The actual excavation technique chosen depends on the type of feature. Pits and postholes are usually half-sectioned, after which the remaining half is drawn and photographed. Ditches have several small trenches cut across them, and again their sections are drawn and recorded. Larger features, such as ovens or cellared buildings, may be quarter sectioned, with opposing quarters being removed first to leave a cross-section through both the length and the breadth of the feature. All features on the site are planned, and today this is often done using a digital positioning system which allows accurate computer plotting of sites.