1/8-inch Mesh Screen

One of the main things I have taken on concerns screen size.  Here in the Northwest, the trend has been towards using fine mesh (1/8-inch mesh) for all archaeological investigations.  This is not simply sub-sampling with fine mesh, but processing all excavated sediment through fine mesh.  

There are many reasons for this trend, with probably the biggest being the emotional appeal.  That is, it just seems more science-y.  It feels right.  It feels rigorous.  We get lots more stuff and since archaeologists want stuff, isn’t more stuff better?  

What’s always missing, however, is a discussion of what we are losing by only using fine mesh.  I often get strange looks when I ask this question.  “We are not losing anything,” is the response, “that’s why we are using fine mesh.”  Unfortunately, you are losing stuff.   Lots of it.   

I have said it before and will say it again. The dramatic increase in the use of fine mesh is a disaster for regional archaeology.  

M.I.A.

Clearly, I have not written in quite a while.  I have simply been too busy.  I don't think that will change, but I am hoping to post on a more regular schedule.  My original goal for this blog was to post some musings, random thoughts and observations.  Mainly some stuff on things I did not really understand or things that were interesting but not worth writing a whole article about.  I was also hoping to generate some conversations on archaeology-related topics.  Specifically, contract archaeology-related topics.  And even more specifically, contract archaeology in the Northwest-related topics.