The Archaeological Field Staff: The Geologist

Abstract

This article is the first in a series devoted to discussions of the responsibilities, activities, and techniques of the various specialists who might make up a modern archaeological field staff The articles are all written by scholars with extensive field experience. It is hoped that the series will be beneficial to scholars in framing the design of their research projects, in planning their budgets, and in determining the number and types of specialists best suited for the projects envisioned. Readers are urged to comment on the series in the light of their own experiences in the field: letters will be published in Perspectives.

Authors of a few of the forthcoming articles in this series include Vaughn M. Bryant, palaeobotany; Frederick R. Matson, ceramics analysis; and Al B. Wesolowsky, physical anthropology.

THE EDITOR

Few major excavations are now mounted without staff representation from the natural sciences. The classical concern of the geologist with stratigraphy and chronology coupled with his/her broad training in the natural sciences makes the geologist a particularly necessary component of the field staff Responsibilities of the staff geologist are likely to include regional geologic studies, lithology and identification, on-site stratigraphy and sedimentology, other technical assistance (e.g., surveying), and post-excavation laboratory analyses. The staff geologist should playa major role in the final synthesis of all environmental data.