Tape Measure Tape measures are used for laying out grids over an archaeological site, for measuring the unit to make sure it is square, for measuring level depths and for measuring features from the corner of the unit. This tool is essential to archaeologists. This is a tool that an archaeologist uses to dig in the ground with. It's very useful because it allows you to dig in a sideways, scraping fashion. It's important that you clear off one level in a unit before digging down to the next level.
Trowels are the single most useful tool to an archaeologist.
An archaeologist lays a grid out over a site and figures out which units will be dug. A unit varies in size. An archaeologist digs one unit at a time. See a unit.