We at Startek Industrial offer hydrovac cleaning services in Sunshine Coast BC. A little-known fact is that the same powerful technology is also revolutionizing urban archaeology. In the past, excavators often used pickaxes and shovels to find historical artefacts on building sites, inevitably destroying them and causing wide damage to historical sites themselves. This destructive approach is, thankfully, history; scientists have found that hydro excavation is a powerful, non-intrusive archaeological tool that can preserve history while uncovering it.
Unearthing the Challenges: Why Traditional Excavation Methods Fall Short
Among all the places on Earth that archaeologists may choose to dig, those that have been urban for a thousand years or more present the most considerable challenges. The remains of the past are covered by a multilayered accretion of our world, modern construction, and increasing attention to urban living and public spaces. When early archaeologists attempted to explore buried remains in places such as Rome, the tools of the trade included heavy machinery, such as bulldozers and manual pickaxes, which would scatter artefacts and disturb the stratigraphic layers of a site.
Key Advantages of Hydro Excavation in Urban Archaeology
Are you looking for the most preferred and trusted providers of hydrovac cleaning services in Sunshine Coast BC? In sharp contrast to all the previous generations of methods of excavation, hydro excavation is a relatively non-invasive way of exposing buried urban antiquities. It consists of a high-pressure water jet connected to a powerful vacuum system. The jet of pressurized water gently removes soil around buried objects, while the vacuum simultaneously sucks up the loosened material. This method allows for the precise removal of soil from specific areas.
PRECISION
Hydro excavation makes for a steadier excavation process. In sharp contrast to traditional methods, hydro excavation minimizes the risk of damaging objects or compromising the site structure.
REDUCED COSTS
Hydro excavation saves time and money by reducing damage to buried features and artefacts, thus minimizing the need for extensive restoration work.
IMPROVED SAFETY
Using pressurized water instead of traditional tools like hand-held chisels reduces physical contact with artefacts, minimizes dust, and eliminates the need for containment structures.
UNCOVERING THE UNEXPECTED
Hydro excavation’s high degree of precision can lead to hidden details coming to light. This, in turn, is inspiring fresh understandings of past societies.
A Glimpse into the Past: Real-World Examples of Hydro Excavation in Action
Hydro excavation has proven to be highly effective in urban archaeology, as evidenced by numerous successful projects worldwide. In London, archaeologists used the process to reveal the lower floor of a Roman bathhouse complex, buried beneath modern structures. Hydro excavation helped reveal the itinerary of ancient life, as the technology provided a slow and gentle exposure of fragile mosaics and other structural elements. We at Startek Industrial may be in the business of hydrovac cleaning services in Sunshine Coast BC, but it is exciting to see this technology being used to rewrite history all around the world. Archaeological discoveries can occur in unexpected places, highlighting the importance of careful excavation techniques in various settings.
Hydro Excavation: Preserving the Past for Future Generations
Hydro excavation: a promising tool for archaeology! It helps protect our precious heritage. By helping archaeologists recover it with more precision and with less damage, it ensures that generations of historians will be able to understand the stories buried underground. Next time you come across a spot with a vacuum rig working in it, remember that there are lessons to be learned. Call us now to learn about our hydrovac cleaning services in Sunshine Coast BC!
