Final answer:
Excavation is the name for digging through layers of a site to uncover artifacts and study cultural contexts. Archaeologists use careful techniques to remove soil and uncover artifacts, documenting each findspot and utilizing stratification to understand relative ages.
Step-by-step explanation:
The name for digging through layers of a site, specifically for the purpose of finding artifacts and studying cultural contexts, is called excavation.
Excavation is a carefully conducted process performed by archaeologists using tools such as trowels and toothbrushes to remove soil and uncover fragile artifacts. The layers of soil and sediment are systematically excavated and documented, allowing archaeologists to understand the history and development of a site.
Key archaeological techniques used during excavation include stratification, which involves studying the layers (or strata) of soil and sediment to determine relative ages of artifacts, and findspot recording, which involves documenting the original location and context of each artifact.