Wet sieving

Definition

Wet sieving is a method used in archaeology to separate artifacts and ecofacts from soil or sediment by using water to wash the material through a mesh screen. This technique is particularly useful for recovering smaller items, such as bones, seeds, and tiny artifacts that may be lost during dry sieving. By employing water, it reduces dust and helps in preserving delicate materials that might be damaged through other excavation methods.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Wet sieving is particularly effective for sites with high clay content, as it helps break down clumps of soil and allows for better recovery of small artifacts.
2. This method can also be beneficial in recovering organic materials like seeds or wood that might degrade or break during dry sieving.
3. In Viking Age archaeology, wet sieving can uncover a wealth of data about diet and subsistence strategies through the recovery of plant remains.
4. Wet sieving requires careful setup, including the use of screens with various mesh sizes to optimize the recovery of different artifact types.
5. Using this technique can lead to a more complete understanding of a site's archaeological context, revealing details about past human behaviors.

Review Questions

• How does wet sieving improve artifact recovery compared to dry sieving, especially in the context of Viking Age archaeology?
  • Wet sieving enhances artifact recovery by utilizing water to wash away soil while allowing smaller artifacts and ecofacts to pass through screens. This is especially important in Viking Age archaeology, where delicate organic materials such as seeds and small tools are often found. Wet sieving minimizes the risk of damaging these fragile items compared to dry sieving, where vigorous shaking might result in loss or destruction. As a result, this method leads to a more comprehensive understanding of material culture from that time period.
• What are some challenges associated with the wet sieving method, and how can these impact archaeological findings?
  • While wet sieving offers advantages, it also presents challenges such as logistical issues related to water access and equipment setup. Additionally, care must be taken to prevent contamination or loss of small artifacts during processing. If not managed properly, these challenges can lead to incomplete recoveries or misinterpretation of the archaeological record. For Viking settlements, where context is crucial for understanding social and economic practices, these issues could skew interpretations if small but significant artifacts are overlooked.
• Evaluate the role of wet sieving in reconstructing the subsistence patterns of Viking Age communities based on recovered ecofacts.
  • Wet sieving plays a critical role in reconstructing subsistence patterns by allowing archaeologists to recover and analyze plant remains, animal bones, and other ecofacts effectively. The ability to retrieve small organic materials enables researchers to gain insights into dietary practices and resource utilization among Viking Age communities. By examining these recovered ecofacts within their archaeological context, experts can identify trends in food consumption, agricultural practices, and trade networks. Thus, wet sieving not only aids in artifact recovery but significantly contributes to understanding the daily lives and survival strategies of these communities.

Related terms

Dry sieving: A technique where soil or sediment is passed through a mesh screen without the use of water, primarily to separate larger artifacts from the sediment.

Sediment analysis: The study of soil layers and sediment composition to interpret past human activity, environmental conditions, and ecological changes.

Artifact recovery: The process of collecting and preserving physical objects made by humans from archaeological sites for further study and analysis.