Systematic Surface Survey
| The geophysical survey results provide us with an image of buried structures. However, this is essentially uni-dimensional and tells us little about the chronology, architectural detail or function of the buildings revealed. These can be addressed by the systematic collection of surface materials, most commonly ceramics and building materials. The technique generally involves collection from the surface of ploughed and weathered fields using the conventional field survey techniques within a collection grid, usually that used for the geophysics. The precise strategy depends upon the nature of the site. The field strategy can involve either total surface collection or the examination of smaller samples. Once collected, the ceramics can be sorted by class (finewares, coarsewares and amphorae) and production (Sigillata Italica), and the building materials by function (flooring, walling, roofing etc). Their relative densities across the site can then be mapped by the computer. |  Image of the dense carpet of ancient ceramics and construction material littering much of the site. |
