Spherical Camera View of an Excavated Unit's Stratigraphy

Using a Ricoh Theta Spherical camera, we took pictures of an excavation unit after every 10 centimeters dug. You can see how the unit (1m x 1m) progresses as the students of #IUSBArch removed the soil. The camera takes an image with 360 degree view, plus above it as well. Using the viewer links, you can rotate and pan and zoom and basically pretend you are down in the unit with an archaeologist.


70 cm below surface
The north arrow is oriented correctly, and the small markings show centimeters for scale.



80 cm below surface
No arrow, but the rock on which the camera sits in positioned north-south. The pump rod (metal line seen clearly in one corner) is in to the southwest.



90 cm below surface
Note: the north arrow points east. I didn't know the camera could see below itself.



100 cm below surface
A canopy was put over the unit, changing the image color slightly.



110 cm below surface
At this point, the cylinder for the hand-operated water pump is completely visible.



120 cm below surface
The dark, ashy material in the west portion of the unit has stopped in this level.


130 cm below surface
The soil is beginning to be more uniformly sandy. Artifacts are still present.



140 cm below surface
The unit is very difficult to enter and exit for excavators at this point.


150 cm below surface
The deepest unit dug by #IUSBArch in 10 years. The field season has ended.