Africa Surveyors January-February issue 2023 digital

ARCHEOLOGY
Surveying in Africa is critical, but unless you have the
correct equipment and trained archaeologists, the field
will be a difficult and time-consuming process.
Archaeology surveying is the process
of gathering information about
the past through excavation and
surveying. It can take a variety of forms and
can be either intensive or non-intrusive.
Archaeology surveying can provide important
information about human activities during
the past. It can be an important step before
archaeological excavations take place.
During archaeological field work in Africa,
geophysical methods are increasingly used.
Until recently, magnetic surveying was not
widely used in sub-Saharan regions. This new
technique is now widely used in sub-Saharan
archaeology. In the Chad Basin, the Zilum site
is part of the Gajiganna Culture and dates
back to 600-400 BC.
Archaeology surveying is an important part
of conservation efforts and can help preserve
and protect African cultural heritage. Through
this project, researchers will document
previously unknown archaeological and
cultural heritage sites. They will focus on
sites that are under threat from urban growth,
conflicts, and infrastructural development.
Researchers will receive in-country training
to identify archaeological sites and maintain
database records.
Surveys are important reconnaissance tools
in African archaeology, but the amount of
surface research is still limited. This article
reviews the state of surface archaeology
in Southern Africa, reviews its role in
landscape archaeology, and considers Bower's
methodological concerns. It also presents a
case study from the Tankwa Karoo region of
South Africa.
Surveying in Africa is critical, but unless you
have the correct equipment and trained
archaeologists, the field will be a difficult
and time-consuming process. But if you have
the proper training and a keen eye, it will
yield rewards. The benefits of conducting
archaeological surveys are significant and
well worth the effort. If you are interested in
learning more about archaeological surveys
in Africa, here are some tips:
The 2004 survey season established an
extensive and diverse archaeological record.
It identified previously undocumented
tell sites on floodplains. The data indicate
three distinct stages in the history of the
region's human settlement: the foraging
phase, a lengthy period of cultivator-forager
economies, and the second phase of smallscale
farming.
An important consideration in archaeological
surveying is visibility. If visibility is good,
researchers will use fieldwalking to
systematically walk through an area looking
for artifacts and archaeological indicators.
They will also take notes about the
surrounding environment at the time. This
method is most effective when the area is flat
and has little vegetation. Because artifacts
But if you have the
proper training and
a keen eye, it will
yield rewards. The
benefits of conducting
archaeological surveys
are significant and
well worth the effort
tend to move to the surface of the soil,
fieldwalking does not always detect them.
Archaeology surveying methods vary
considerably, but the basic principles of
all methods are the same. The method
of surveying must be appropriate for the
archaeological site and the site's location.
Before deciding on the surveying method,
archaeologists must first define the
study area and become familiar with its
natural characteristics. Another method of
archaeological surveying is by using remote
sensing techniques. These techniques allow
archaeologists to conduct subsurface testing
without disturbing the surface. One technique
uses a proton magnetometer to measure
the strength of the earth's magnetic field.
Unscathed dirt registers a smooth plane when
the device is placed on it. Disturbed dirt, such
as ditches, will alter the magnetic reading.
The method is effective in detecting middens,
ditches, and burned structures.
Gedi Ruins, Kenya