Page "Excavation (archaeology)" Paragraph 41

# Under-cutting.

Under cutting occurs where contexts are not excavated fully and some remainder of the context is left in situ masking the nature of the underlying contexts.

This is especially common among inexperienced archaeologists who have a tendency to be timid.

The consequences of undercutting are quite serious as the nature of the archaeological sequence is obscured and subsequent recording and excavation is based on a flawed reading of the deposits on site.

Unchecked, what follows from under-cutting is the production of false data often from the failure to spot intrusive finds and in turn, serious ramifications for the ability to interpret the sequence post-excavation.

Entire sites can be " thrown out of phase " where relationships recorded in the Harris matrix bear no genuine association with any understandable phase of occupation.

If a regime of under-cutting is allowed to progress its effects multiply as the site is reduced.