Sod is removed with shovels by digging up the soil in narrow and shallow strips. Shovel shining is removing the topsoil by skimming the surface with the shovel blade, taking a thin layer of soil off the surface. Now the excavation is ready to begin. Sites are dug in square units . The size of the unit is usually decided by the Archaeologist.
Special attention is paid to layers and features .
Believe it or not, the ground is arranged in layers , kind of like a layer cake. When you find a layer in your unit, it will usually cover the whole floor of your unit. A feature is an artifact that is too large to move. A feature might be anything from a filled in pit to a foundation wall or floor. Dirt is sifted through a screen to make sure no artifacts were missed while digging.