Geoarchaeological borehole studies are carried out at different stages of archaeological projects and for varying reasons. Borehole surveys normally form part of archaeological projects that are investigating potentially deeply buried or stratified sites in alluvial (river), intertidal (estuary and coastal), lacustrine (lake), urban and some colluvial ('hillwash') environments. Geoarchaeological boreholes differ from those drilled for geotechnical purposes in that they are intended to address archaeological problems, their stratigraphy is recorded in much greater detail and sampling is undertaken both with higher precision and at a greater resolution. Boreholes drilled at the desktop (assessment) and test excavation (evaluation) stage might be used to provide an initial stratigraphic framework for a site, to develop a deposit model or to augment an existing model based on geotechnical data. In certain circumstances geoarchaeological boreholes drilled at the test excavation stage might be used as a direct means of prospecting for deeply buried archaeological sites, particularly if used in conjunction with laboratory mineral magnetic and geochemical studies. Geoarchaeological boreholes drilled during full excavations are normally to collect core samples from deeply buried stratigraphy for laboratory-based sedimentological and bioarchaeological analysis, and chronometric dating.

Experience and Equipment
ARCA's Geoarchaeology division is very experienced in carrying out borehole surveys, having undertaken more than 30 borehole projects in the 2005 - 2008 interval alone. Various drilling and boring equipment can be used depending on site circumstances. ARCA possesses hand-operated Edelmann and gouge augers, Russian and Livingstone corers, as well as Atlas Cobra petrol-powered hammers and associated Eijkelkamp gouge augers and core samplers. When ARCA's own drilling equipment is insufficient, ARCA geoarchaeologists will work with geotechnical engineering companies employing cable percussive, rotary drilling or Competitor rigs in order to obtain suitable samples for geoarchaeological study. Cores are transported to ARCA's laboratories, cleaned, photographed, described using standard geological terminology, scanned using Bartington magnetic susceptibility equipment, sub-sampled for sedimentological, bioarchaeological and chronometric dating studies as appropriate, and then archived. Data obtained are integrated in Rockware ™ RockWorks and ESRI ™ ArcGIS software.

Find Out More
To discuss your geoarchaeological borehole requirements, contact Keith Wilkinson