End of the Season
 After
several weeks of excavations comes the time of closing down the
square for the season. Usually, this process starts about five
days or so before the time the team permanently departs from the
site. The first order of business is to make a final Top Plan of
the square. (To see a sample Top Plan, click here.) This Top Plan will be
extremely important not only for stratigraphy but also to mark
where the excavation stopped. The next season in the square must
start at the same point, which may be under several centimeters
of soil (wind-blown sediment) by the time the Excavation Team
returns. Next, the Square Supervisor’s
attention turns to balks. [
Photo] If not
done already, the balks must be trimmed so that they are
vertical and smooth. A clean balk allows one to better see each
locus. Then, each balk must be drawn to scale, with indications
of each locus visible in the balk drawing. [
Photo] This
information is critical when looking at the relative chronology
of the square. (To see a sample balk drawing, click here.)
 In
addition to balks, one must also draw all architecture (each
exposed vertical surface) and any other vertical feature within
the square. The drawing process is tedious and very time
consuming but the data is essential for the Excavation Team’s
future analysis of the square. When all the
drawings are complete, the square must be cleaned up for final
photos. All dust is brushed off every feature so that all
features will be clearly visible in the photos. Also, all traces
of the team’s activities are removed, such as footprints, balk
strings, tools, etc. [
Photo]
After final photos are made, the Square Supervisor will place
indicators (plastic or burlap bags) at various places on the
bottom of the square. These indicators mark the bottom of the
square and serve as a reference when excavations begin again the
next season. The location of each indicator is marked on a copy
of the final Top Plan so that they can be easily found the next
season. Then, some of the soil from the sieve is placed back in
the square to cover the indicator and to protect the bottom of
the square. If the square has been completely excavated, the
square may be completely filled to prevent erosion and to
restore the integrity of the site. Whichever the case, the
square is now prepared for the dormant period until the next
excavation.
 Although
out of the field at the end of the season, the Square Supervisor
still has a few concerns. The Field Notebook has to be
thoroughly checked for accuracy and missing information.
This process includes getting object numbers from the Object
Registrar. (Each object found at a site is given a number. These
numbers must be recorded in the Field Notebook.) [
Photo] Once the
Field Notebook is complete, it is turned over to the Field
Supervisor. After completing the Field
Notebook, the Square Supervisor may also write up a brief
chronology and analysis of excavations in his/her square. This
analysis will be integrated into a larger report written by the
Field Supervisor.
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