SAMPLING b. A small portion, piece, or segment selected as a sample.

PRELEVÁ vb. tr. a extrage, a detaşa dintr-o cantitate totală, dintr-un ansamblu. ♢ a recolta un eşantion de ţesut, lichid organic etc. spre a fi studiat. (< fr. prélever)

http://fr.thefreedictionary.com/prélever

prélever [pʀelve] vt [+ échantillon] → to take;
prélever (sur) [+ argent] → to deduct (from): (sur son compte) → to withdraw (from)


"An archeologist may sample the site, or do a controlled dig—an excavation that keeps the relation of all objects found in context"


Besides artifacts, archeologists may take sediment samples from a site back to the laboratory for fine-screening. This allows recovery of artifacts that typical field-screening techniques would miss. For example, sediments may provide microscopic pollen grains that will aid paleoclimatic reconstructions. Material from ancient hearths may contain seeds, hulls, and small animal bones that help archeologists decipher the diet of that site's occupants. Charcoal samples can be retrieved for age dating in the laboratory using carbon-14 (radiocarbon), for example.

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Note added at 9 hrs (2008-08-08 18:11:35 GMT)
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Cum se preleveaza ceramica si ce anume si/sau cat e o intreaga
parte destul de laborioasa care are treaba cu intrebarea arheologica.
Daca suntem interesati de tratamentele exterioare ale vasului vom
curata superficial de pamant stratul exterior si vom poliza 1 -2 mm
din stratul exterior pentru analiza. la fel in interior . Pentru a
face diferenta iarasi intre matrice (pamant) reziduul organic efectiv
vor trebui analizate separat. Atunci cand diverse cioburi prelevate
din diverse locuri din aceeasi sapatura sunt toate aruncate in
acelasi sac si trimise in laborator pentru analize cromatografice
riscul contaminarilor incrucisate creste semnificativ prin contact
mecanic.


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Note added at 10 hrs (2008-08-08 18:42:43 GMT)
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http://www.txarch.org/Activities/academy/index.html

Course instruction includes basic knowledge needed to identify archeological sites in various regions across the state, how to properly survey a site and record the information needed to complete a standard Tex Site survey form, how to perform a test excavation if necessary, including establishing methods of control (horizontal and vertical), sampling, preserving provenience of artifacts recovered, collecting samples, laboratory processing and cataloguing specimens, analysis, interpretation, and reporting. Each topic is covered in specific sections.