Expert: Ralph Salier - 8/7/2002

Question
Hi!  I am homeschooled and doing a unit-study on archaeology.  One of the things that I'm supposed to find out is what professions are represented on an archaeological team and their function on a dig.  I've been searching through books, websites, and encyclopedias, but can't find this information.  Can you help?  Thanks.

--Kat

Answer
Here is a list of professionals who work on the team even if they are not present on the site the whole time:

Geologist - helps the archaeologist understand the soils and thier origins
Limnologist- type of geologist who helps the archaeologist understand water laid layers in the site
Paleobotinist - this is a botanist who studies plants and their remains from archaeologial sites as well as other kinds of fossil plant remains
Cartagrapher - the map maker
Suryeyor - to help lay in the elevations, and the dig grid
Lithicist - the person who studies stone technology
Ceramisist - the person who studies ceramics
osteologist - the person who studies the bones from the site both human and animal
the malacologist - the person who studies the snails and other environmental materials from the site
Photographer - who photographs items in situ before they are removed from the find location
Bio-Chemist -who studies the soil itself for the remains of the biological systems which decayed in the soil

and of course the archaeologists (diggers, supervisors and director) who actually do the digging for the materials.  Then in the lab you have cleaners, markers, assemblers and several other people who work with the artifacts.