We are writing explanation texts about how to do an archaeological dig and we would love to know your best tip! Thank you! From the Lower School children at Cove Junior School

I’m sorry that this is a bit late but I have been away in Austria putting together an exhibition about Stonehenge – there is a connection!

You asked about a good tip on how to do an archaeological dig. I would say ‘carefully’ is one of my best tips! You also need to make sure that everything is recorded as well as it can be while you are doing it. If you excavate a site then you are destroying it just as much as someone would if they came along with a bulldozer. The difference is that, as an archaeologist, you record what you are removing, with notes, photographs and drawings, as well as the finds and samples of soil etc, so that you can reconstruct the site later. It’s all these records and finds that form the evidence for the archaeological reports that should be written after the dig.

The ideal way to preserve an archaeological site is for it to stay in the ground, but if that isn’t possible then digging it and recording it is the next best thing – and what archaeologists call ‘preservation by record’. So, if you’re going to dig anything then make sure you record it properly and write your report as soon as you can after the dig is over.