Integrating Research Methods with Local Regulations: Designing the Excavation and Proveniencing System for the Middle Paleolithic Excavations at Crvena Stijena, Montenegro

Summary

This is an abstract from the "The Late Middle Paleolithic in the Western Balkans: Results from Recent Excavations at Crvena Stijena, Montenegro" session, at the 88th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Theoretically informed research methods are only as good as the ability of the research team to put the methods into action. Between the well-intentioned plans of the PIs and the successful elucidation of fascinating anthropological questions lie the practicalities of difficult terrain, inconsistent access to water and electricity, and bureaucratically difficult government regulations. Here we report on our efforts to bridge this gap as part of the collaboration between the University of Minnesota and the National Museum of Montenegro at the Middle Paleolithic site of Crvena Stijena (Montenegro). With funding from NSF and the Montenegrin Ministry of Culture, we implemented an excavation protocol that took practical challenges as opportunities to rethink standard methods in favor of novel approaches, including field digitization of excavation surfaces by georeferenced photogrammetry to avoid hand recording of non-artifactual features and objects, 100% sediment flotation despite water limitations, a twice-checked lab extraction of artifacts to 1 mm to allow for training of new lab assistants, and an integrated paper and digital backup system to compensate for inconsistent power. As nothing is perfect, we report on areas in which there is still room for improvement and a desire for feedback from the larger archaeological community.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• The Late Middle Paleolithic in the Western Balkans: Results from Recent Excavations at Crvena Stijena, Montenegro   •
• Society for American Archaeology 88th Annual Meeting, Portland, OR (2023)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 36482.0