ABSTRACT
Here we discuss archaeological fieldwork on burial grounds. Excavation of skeletal remains on an archaeological site requires careful organisation. Before the main excavation phase there is normally evaluation of the site using trial trenching, sometimes preceded by geophysical survey. Excavation of a cemetery emphasises careful recording of aspects that will be lost once the site has been dug, coupled with careful recovery of the skeletons and associated evidence. Among the former are aspects of the position of the skeleton in the grave, which can be used to infer the original position in which the body was placed for burial, a key piece of evidence regarding ancient funerary treatment. Sampling the soil left in the grave once the skeleton is lifted helps recover small bones, loose teeth and small artifacts that might otherwise be missed.
