STRIP, MAP AND SAMPLE (SMS)

Strip, map and sample is a method of excavation which allows large areas of land to be investigated and allows relationships and extents of any archaeological features to be established to provide an understanding of the site. SMS is generally undertaken once other forms of investigation have shown archaeology to be present, or if it is already recorded as being present. Once all of the ploughsoil has been stripped, the surface is cleaned back manually by archaeologists and archaeological features are mapped in by survey, the resulting drawings and site plans used to further identify any relationships and extents that are harder to see on the ground.

Decisions are then made as to which features to excavate and what percentage of these features would be excavated. This part of the excavation is the sampling process. The features are hand-excavated, have detailed technical drawings performed, and are photographed. Environmental sampling will also allow for additional evidence of the site through analysis of items found from soil sampling. This could be anything from charred wood and plant remains to insects.

The post-excavation stage of an excavation involves digitising the illustrations and writing the report. Any samples and finds, such as pottery and flint, are analysed by specialists. Once the specialists have written their reports, the whole document is put together and prepared for publication. This publication will give a detailed analysis of the site as a whole as well as the features individually. This information is crucial to our understanding and learning of our heritage.

STRIP, MAP AND SAMPLE (SMS)