Sondage

Archaeological process

A sondage is an archaeological process to clarify stratigraphic sequences during preliminary investigations of the terrain prior to an archaeological dig. In a narrower sense it is a "deep trial trench for inspecting stratigraphy".^[1]

In doing so, several approximately 1 m² (11 ft²) test excavations are carried out over the area, as far as possible down to the 'natural soil' level^{[clarification needed ]}. Clearly recognizable layers of sediment (possibly created by hiatuses or fire horizons) allow an initial overview, and individual finds made in the process can be assigned to a specific layer in suitable cases. In the case of a probe, technical work steps such as the precise measurement of the cut are particularly important.

In a figurative sense, a survey procedure is also called a sondage.^{[clarification needed ]}