Excavation Skills!

[Unitof1]

so what is subsoil?

its not topsoil

[Dirty Dave Lincoln]

Post-natural deposition?

[Wax]

There are lots of very clear definitions of what a sub soil is on the net some more technical than others. I have understood it to be the less biologically active layers under the immediate topsoil where all the really frisky biological action is taking place. yes I know biological action of various sorts can continue to some depth but the top soil is where it is at. So if archaeologists have been misusing the term where are we going wrong?

[trowelfodder]

When I was in uni we did a really useful module on site drawing, it involved a massive section being drawn up on the wall and then having to measure the dimensions and reproduce it at a scale of 1:10 and I think 1:20. The same could be done with planning. Just a simple way to give a basic understanding of working with different scales.

[Dinosaur]

On the basis that the most valuable site skill is the one most likely to get that job on site in the first place,

SEND THEM OFF TO A DRIVING SCHOOL

Oh, and subsoil is the bit with the archaeology in that quarry operators start machining off without asking....but unusually Unit is spot on and totally accurate, it's in the name really, subsoil is just anything under the 'soil', normally taken to mean the modern biologically active topsoil, surprised Mr Prentice didn't know that :face-kiss:

[monty]

i knew it would be you

so what is subsoil?

...............errrrrr........ the layer of soil below the topsoil...........................

[Wax]

so what is subsoil?

A deposit in the heads on a submarine? (hangs head in shame at terrible naval joke)}

[Kajemby]

so what is subsoil?

A convenient way of describing the b horizon between the a and c horizons, without sounding like a pretentious a**e.

[monty]

What is sub soil?

A convenient way of describing the b horizon between the a and c horizons, without sounding like a pretentious a**e.

Nice one !! :face-approve:

[P Prentice]

A convenient way of describing the b horizon between the a and c horizons, without sounding like a pretentious a**e.

therefore on an archaeological context sheet it is an entirely meaningless term - mostly used by people who dont understand site formation