Archaeological excavations in the subsoil
Archaeology in all its facets is one of the core activities of our company, adapted to the needs of our clients. With more than 15 years of experience in the sector, we offer security in terms of contracts, budgets and deadlines. As a spin-off from the Universitat Rovira i Virgili, we bring quality and value to all our projects, with knowledge transfer as one of our main objectives.
Classification of archaeological interventions carried out by IBER
- Prospecting: surface, sub-surface, or underwater exploration that does not involve the removal of soil and may or may not include the collection of archaeological or palaeontological materials. The aim is to locate and examine archaeological or palaeontological remains, with or without the use of specialised techniques.
- Sampling: involves the taking of samples, which may involve the removal of soil or the collection of materials.
- Controls: are monitoring activities and, in some cases, the coordination of works or activities that may affect archaeological or palaeontological remains, including the cleaning of sites.
- Excavations: are surface, underground or sub-surface excavations for the systematic discovery and study of all types of archaeological or palaeontological remains. They also include surveys aimed at verifying or delimiting the presence of archaeological or palaeontological remains at a given location.
- Graphic and plastic documentation: these are operations aimed at obtaining graphic information on archaeological or palaeontological sites. This work may be carried out by means of tracing for the direct study of rock art and wall paintings, by means of planimetric surveys or by carrying out soundings or other techniques.
- Consolidation, restoration and adaptation: these are operations aimed at preserving and maintaining archaeological and palaeontological sites or adapting them for public visitation.
The full archaeological excavation of the identified remains is normally carried out manually under the direction of a technical director.
The archaeological excavation of a site involves the documentation of all the existing archaeological stratigraphy (or that affected by a development) from the surface to the exhaustion of the archaeological stratigraphy, with the location of the geological levels.
Archaeological sites are usually found not on the surface but at a certain depth. This situation implies, before the archaeological intervention itself begins, the removal of the surface layers by mechanical means and under the direction of a specialised technical director, down to the level where the stratigraphy or archaeological structures are located.
If any historical reference is known about the site, archaeological research is carried out by an archaeologist or documentalist on any surviving documentation relating to the site.
On the one hand, we carry out preventive archaeological interventions that affect the subsoil, either extensively in archaeological sites and/or areas, or by means of probes in plots or buildings, with extensive experience in the Iberian world, the Roman, Islamic, Medieval, Modern and Civil War periods. This technique is used when there are indications of the possible presence of archaeological remains (i.e. areas of archaeological or palaeontological expectation) prior to urban development or archaeological intervention. In order to determine whether archaeological remains are present, a series of samples are taken from the site in order to obtain data and determine the reality of the subsoil.
On the other hand, we carry out archaeological interventions in the subsoil of buildings. In this case, under the direction of a technical director, manual probing is carried out at different points of a building to determine the stratigraphy and archaeological characteristics of the site. The purpose of these soundings is to avoid excavating certain areas where it is clear that there are no archaeological levels or remains. The lowered power of the boreholes shall extend to the location of the geological stratum. The initial lowering of surface levels may be carried out mechanically provided that they are pavements and/or recent rubble levels. These levels shall then be lowered to the location of structures or archaeological stratigraphy. Once the surface levels have been lowered and the first remains have been documented, the work shall continue manually, progressively lowering the ground until the archaeological levels have been exhausted and the geological levels have been located.
Archaeological activities and projects
To centrally manage the requirements that our customers request in preventive matters, we have the Gestiona seal, with which Obralia, a neutral agent, validates that all processes are correct and updated, contributing to a more satisfactory user experience for our customers.
