Final answer:
Excavations emphasizing the vertical dimension (A) allow archaeologists to understand the chronological sequence of a site through deeper digging, while those emphasizing the horizontal dimension (B) focus on spatial relationships between artifacts on the surface. Vertical exaggeration is a geological technique that can affect interpretation of features in cross-sections.
Step-by-step explanation:
Excavation Strategies in Archaeology
In archaeology, two main excavation strategies focus on different dimensions:
- A) Excavations that emphasize the vertical dimension: These excavations explore the depth and are used when the goal is to understand the stratigraphic sequence of a site. By digging deeper, archaeologists can uncover layers from different periods, applying the law of superposition to determine which layers are older. This method allows for analysis of how a site changed over time.
- B) Excavations that emphasize the horizontal dimension: This method involves uncovering a large area on the surface to reveal the spatial relationships between artifacts and features in situ. Archaeologists may use grids to carefully document and map the location of all findings, which provides a clear view of the distribution of the cultural materials without going deeply into the vertical stratigraphy.
Vertical exaggeration in geological terms is a technique used to emphasize vertical features that might be too small on a cross-sectional drawing without it. This has significance in archaeology when illustrating stratigraphic layers, as it can affect the perceived angle of dips in geological features.
Controlled excavations are critical in archaeology to ensure that artefacts and sites are left as undisturbed as possible, maintaining context and allowing for accurate interpretation and documentation of the artefacts found.