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A necessary tool for careful excavation, allowing archaeologists to delicately uncover artifacts without causing damage.

Trowel

Used for cleaning artifacts and revealing fine details during excavation, with soft bristles being ideal for the task.

Brush

The Ultimate Archaeology Gear Checklist - Trowel & Brush

Essential for digging down to the cultural layer and moving soil around the excavation site.

Shovel

Important for safely storing and transporting artifacts, typically labeled for future reference.

Finds Bags

Critical for accurately measuring and recording the location and dimensions of artifacts and excavation units.

Measuring Tape

Used for recording important observations, measurements, and excavation data.

Notebook

Recommended for making initial notes and sketches, particularly because errors can be erased easily.

Pencil

Useful for marking finds bags and other materials due to its permanent ink.

Sharpie

A surprisingly useful tool for delicate excavation work, less likely to damage fragile artifacts than metal tools.

Plastic Spoon

Helps ensure that no small artifacts or materials are missed, useful for processing excavated soil.

Small Sieve

Essential for documenting the site and artifacts, providing visual records for analysis.

Camera

Protects notes in wet conditions, allowing for field documentation even in rain.

Waterproof Clipboard

Helps ensure that excavation is level and straight, particularly when setting up grids.

Line Level

Used for marking grids and excavation boundaries, facilitating the organization of the dig site.

String

An important tool for surveying, allowing archaeologists to record heights of features and create accurate site plans.

Dumpy Level

Includes items like mattocks and spades, essential for physical excavation work, especially in large or deep sites.

Heavy Digging Tools

A precision instrument for measuring and documenting archaeological features with high accuracy.

Total Station

A modern tool for analyzing soil and material composition on-site, useful in determining the presence of artifacts without excavation.

pXRF Analyzer

A non-invasive method for exploring subsurface features without disturbing the ground.

Ground Penetrating Radar

Vital for capturing artifact context and ensuring accurate size representation in documentation.

Digital Camera with Photo Scale

A simple yet effective tool for navigation and mapping when conducting surveys.

Compass

Essential for recording precise locations of finds and excavation units.

GPS Unit

Important for ensuring safety on-site, addressing minor injuries that may occur during fieldwork.

First Aid Kit

Protect hands during excavation and handling of artifacts in various environmental conditions.

Rubber-Palmed Work Gloves

Useful for documenting artifacts and site layouts in detail, allowing for advanced analysis and study.

3D Scanner

Increasingly used for aerial surveys and capturing images of large excavation sites from above.

Drones

Necessary for collecting and storing soil samples for later analysis.

Environmental Containers

Hard hats and high-visibility clothing for ensuring safety on construction sites and in the field.

Safety Gear

Essential for staying hydrated and energized during long excavation sessions in the field.

Water and Food Supplies

- Trowel: A necessary tool for careful excavation, allowing archaeologists to delicately uncover artifacts without causing damage [2][8].
- Brush: Used for cleaning artifacts and revealing fine details during excavation, with soft bristles being ideal for the task [5][8].
- Shovel: Essential for digging down to the cultural layer and moving soil around the excavation site [5][11].
- Finds Bags: Important for safely storing and transporting artifacts, typically labeled for future reference [2][5][8].
- Measuring Tape: Critical for accurately measuring and recording the location and dimensions of artifacts and excavation units [2][5][8].
- Notebook: Used for recording important observations, measurements, and excavation data [8][11].
- Pencil: Recommended for making initial notes and sketches, particularly because errors can be erased easily [5][11].
- Sharpie: Useful for marking finds bags and other materials due to its permanent ink [5][6].
- Plastic Spoon: A surprisingly useful tool for delicate excavation work, less likely to damage fragile artifacts than metal tools [5].
- Small Sieve: Helps ensure that no small artifacts or materials are missed, useful for processing excavated soil [5].
- Camera: Essential for documenting the site and artifacts, providing visual records for analysis [5][11].
- Waterproof Clipboard: Protects notes in wet conditions, allowing for field documentation even in rain [6].
- Line Level: Helps ensure that excavation is level and straight, particularly when setting up grids [8][11].
- String: Used for marking grids and excavation boundaries, facilitating the organization of the dig site [2][8][11].
- Dumpy Level: An important tool for surveying, allowing archaeologists to record heights of features and create accurate site plans [2].
- Heavy Digging Tools: Includes items like mattocks and spades, essential for physical excavation work, especially in large or deep sites [2].
- Total Station: A precision instrument for measuring and documenting archaeological features with high accuracy [5][6].
- pXRF Analyzer: A modern tool for analyzing soil and material composition on-site, useful in determining the presence of artifacts without excavation [3].
- Ground Penetrating Radar: A non-invasive method for exploring subsurface features without disturbing the ground [3][4].
- Digital Camera with Photo Scale: Vital for capturing artifact context and ensuring accurate size representation in documentation [5][11].
- Compass: A simple yet effective tool for navigation and mapping when conducting surveys [5][11].
- GPS Unit: Essential for recording precise locations of finds and excavation units [5][11].
- First Aid Kit: Important for ensuring safety on-site, addressing minor injuries that may occur during fieldwork [6].
- Rubber-Palmed Work Gloves: Protect hands during excavation and handling of artifacts in various environmental conditions [6][8].
- 3D Scanner: Useful for documenting artifacts and site layouts in detail, allowing for advanced analysis and study [4].
- Drones: Increasingly used for aerial surveys and capturing images of large excavation sites from above [3].
- Environmental Containers: Necessary for collecting and storing soil samples for later analysis [2].
- Safety Gear: Hard hats and high-visibility clothing for ensuring safety on construction sites and in the field [2][5].
- Water and Food Supplies: Essential for staying hydrated and energized during long excavation sessions in the field [5][6].

Best Archaeology Tools for Beginners

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