Final answer:
Overburden removal, also known as stripping, is the additional excavation needed to provide clearance for work in archaeological sites, aiming to reach artifacts without causing damage.
Step-by-step explanation:
The additional excavation needed to provide clearance for work is often termed as overburden removal or stripping. This process involves removing the layers of soil and rock that overlay archaeological deposits.
In the context of archaeological excavation, which is a systematic and controlled process, the intent behind overburden removal is to reach the levels that contain artifacts, ecofacts, and features in situ without damaging them.
Archaeologists use various tools for this purpose, focusing on meticulous work to ensure the safety and integrity of the archaeological site and any finds within it.
Unlike the large-scale dredging of canals mentioned in historical agricultural practices, archaeological excavation is more precise and seeks to preserve as much contextual information as possible.