Combining machine control and a skilled operator to help archaeology

作者：Karina Lykke Lumholt
Video specialist:帕梅拉·阿尔梅达（Pamela Almeida）

目前在丹麦的奥登斯（Odense）进行建造之前，在丹麦的奥登斯（Odense）进行了大约10公顷/25英亩的面积。奥登城市博物馆及其大型考古学家团队负责研究，挖掘和保存该地区的史前史，策展人雅各布·邦德（Jakob Bonde）正在领导发掘。

“我们发现了一个现有村庄的一部分，我们可以追溯到公元1200年左右的中世纪”雅各布解释说。

在这个中世纪地点以南，考古学家很高兴找到一个更早的地点。从罗马铁器时代（公元前500年至公元400年）的火葬坟墓的埋葬场所。

探索沟渠的挖掘开始了考古发掘，以获得沉积物的侧面（分层）视图。这确立了该地区是否有考古对象或材料，并按时间顺序排列它们。

如果初步检查后在现场发现考古发现，则挖掘机将精心删除表土。Fuglsanggård公司的Thomas Petersen专门使用配备Leica IXE3机器控制的挖掘机进行考古项目。

“We started working with Thomas about four years ago. It is very helpful for us that he has this equipment because it’s making our job easier when we don’t have to measure everything. He can help us setting out the test trenches and the areas that we shall excavate, and when we are finished, we level everything out again,雅各布说。

It takes finesse to use an excavator for archaeology projects

The excavator carefully removes the topsoil, and if the archaeologists find something, the Leica GS12 GNSS antenna and the CS15 controller are used to digitally record the exact positions of the find and report it back to the museum. Wooden pegs are placed in the soil so the archaeologists can look for traces of houses, pits, wells and graves in the designated area.

“I am trained in spotting the post holes, urn graves, or other graves. I know what the archaeologists are looking for, and I can stop the excavator before digging into something important. It demands patience and sense in order not to dig too deep,” says Thomas Petersen.

Thomas receives the outline with GNSS coordinates for the project from the museum, throughLeica ConXto theMC1在卡宾内控制面板上的软件。他使用机器控制解决方案将该区域的所有高度与挖掘机的铲斗和功能记录创建模型在MC1中，即时创建表面模型。优势是他确切地知道一旦挖掘完成了多少材料以及何处。

Logging of points to create a surface model.

Thomas uses the newly releasedsemi-automatic functionality in MC1when filling back the material.

“It makes it easier to fill back material in the correct heights using the one-hand-operation. I don’t risk not having enough material, I can create a smoother surface than I can manually, and I get it right the first time!” explains Thomas.