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Plan View and Profile Mapping
We began our experience at this field school by working on the plan view and profile mapping of site 55. This entailed documenting the various rock walls of the site along with the layers of our unit. Unlike other forms of documenting, the methods we used were done without the use of many tools as the tape and a portable grid sufficed. This made it easier than other methods, such as plane table mapping or compass and tape mapping, to document the various features and inclusion of site 55.
In order to map the profile of the numerous rock wall enclosures a portable 1m x 1m grid was used. By placing this grid in front of a given section of the rock wall, our group was given an accurate scale to begin measuring in the rocks. Using a measuring tape to measure out vertical and horizontal points on the various rocks within that grid our groups recorder was able to sketch an accurate depiction of the wall. Grid points were logged first then drawn out for expediency. This method is particularly usual for Hawaiian archaeologists given that most architecture in Hawaii are rock formations.
After this process, we moved to excavations. Because archaeology is a destructive process, documentation is extremely important in preserving the integrity of the site. As such, paperwork and plan view maps were taken at each 10 cm increment of depth. The plane view being the scaled bird’s-eye-view of each layer of excavation. This gives archaeologists an understanding of the types of inclusions or artifacts within the unit as well as allows for the documentation of soil changes (i.e. change in color or texture). Because the unit is 1m x 1m plotting the corners of protruding rocks and documenting special finds within the unit is made easier. Though we didn't uncover any artifacts that needed to be graphed out we did come across many large rocks and roots.
Any type of mapping and diagramming is important because it is another method of preserving a view or image that will not always be visible. Again, archaeology is a destructive process so it is important to get every ounce of information we can. Through mapping and diagramming we can capture and highlight the details that may go unnoticed upon first inspection or in photos. Documentation of sites means that this knowledge can be easily saved and shown to more people. Journals and essays can be dense and written with technical jargon that many don't understand, but graphs and maps provide an insight that many can understand. One of the most important benefits of mapping is the amount of focus you put onto the unit/site. By looking at something for a long time it allows for the possibility of seeing something that you didn't see before. While the two kinds of mapping we studied had similar processes they were unique in their own ways and were significantly different from the other mapping techniques used on the site like tape and compass and the plane table.
