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Soil Sifting in Action

From K. Kris Hirst, About.com

An archaeologist demonstrates the shaker screen (pay no attention to the inappropriate footwear).

An archaeologist demonstrates the shaker screen (pay no attention to the inappropriate footwear).

Kris Hirst (c) 2006
This researcher was dragged from her office to demonstrate how a shaker screen is used in the field. Soils are placed in the screened box and the archaeologist shakes the screen back and forth, allowing the dirt to pass through and artifacts larger than 1/4 inch to be retained. Under normal field conditions she would be wearing steel-toed boots.

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