Shoutout to the museum volunteer who told me my trowel technique was wrong

Vera Reed · 2026-10-11T09:55:04.679939+00:00

I've been digging at a site outside Tucson for about 8 months and always used a short chopping motion with my trowel because that's what I saw on TV. A retired volunteer named Harold watched me for a bit and said I was slicing right through pottery sherds instead of lifting them out. He showed me how to scrape at a low angle and feel for hard edges before I commit to a stroke. Last weekend I pulled out a whole painted bowl rim in one piece, first intact find I've had. Anyone else get corrected on basic technique way later than they want to admit?

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Shoutout to the museum volunteer who told me my trowel technique was wrong | Archaeology Discoveries - Topic Shares