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The Weight of History, "Piece by Piece"Analytical scales help archeologists to understand daily life from hundreds of years ago.by Paul Wesolowski, Ohaus Corporation
The Ohaus Adventurer Pro family of scales, featuring both analytical and precision configurations in a variety of capacities, is suited for laboratory applications. | The National Park Service archeologists discover, analyze and record artifacts on a daily basis. One major project currently underway is the excavation of three blocks of Philadelphia’s Independence Mall, which contains hundreds of historic house lots where people lived and worked in the late-18th and early-19th centuries.
To help complete this project, the National Park Service has been collaborating with the National Constitution Center, the Gateway Visitor Center Corporation, Eastern National, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Since the project began in 2000, more than one million artifacts have been recovered from the site, which sits one block north of Independence Hall.
During the excavation, archeologists found pieces ranging from small seeds and animal bones to glass bottles and ceramic fragments. Thus far, more than 70,000 artifacts have been weighed and recorded into a computerized cataloging system. With the help of Ohaus Adventurer Pro and Champ precision balances, this process has been made easier and more efficient, speeding the archeologists’ work.
The process involves cleaning, analyzing and recording artifacts in the Independence Living History Center Archeology Laboratory, which houses all one-million pieces. Open to the public, this working facility is surrounded by glass windows, so visitors can watch the archeologists at work.
“The bulk of what we do in the lab is processing and analyzing artifacts,” says Jed Levin, research director of the center. With 70,000 already recorded, he estimates it will take about five to six years to finish recording those that remain.
According to Levin, for each hour spent in the field, another two to ten hours are spent in the laboratory analyzing and recording the artifacts found. The laboratory process starts with cleaning each one piece by piece. The objects are then labeled, reassembled, if needed, and photographed.
The durable Ohaus Champ II scale is used by the Independence Living History Center Archeology Laboratory team for heavier objects. | Afterward, an analyst tries to determine what the piece is, the material it’s made of, the type of decoration on it, and when and where it was made. The analyst also measures its attributes, such as the diameter and weight, so the piece can be quantified. Then the artifact is entered into a computerized cataloging system.
Levin and the research team use the Ohaus Adventurer Pro electronic balance when recording weight measurements. The Adventurer Pro offers labs reliability and accuracy, along with the option of a factory-installed USB port. For heavier objects, the research team uses Ohaus Champ bench scales, which can weigh up to 150 kg.
Both the Adventurer Pro balance and Champ scale offer readouts that can be transferred into Levin’s computerized cataloging system. Weight is entered automatically because the scale connects directly to the computer, eliminating manual input and ensuring data accuracy.
“Weighing and recording artifacts can be pretty time consuming and labor intensive, which is why digital scales are an advantage because they cut the time in half,” says Levin.
A member of the Independence Living History Center Archeology Laboratory team uses the Ohaus Adventurer Pro to weigh an artifact before it is entered into the computerized cataloging system. | Getting an accurate weight is also important. Curators need to know how much certain pieces weigh so they can plan shelving arrangements. The measurements are also useful for analysis or for comparing quantities for statistical studies.
These studies are used to understand aspects of daily life from the past. For example, comparing the weight of oyster shells from a coachmen’s house to the weight of those from a wealthy man’s house gives researchers a better idea of people’s diets in the 18th century, explains Levin. The difference can help reveal how diets varied between the wealthy and the poor, or between people of different ethnic backgrounds.
In addition, the Adventurer Pro and Champ scales can be customized by the researcher, adding another layer of benefits. This and other key features help archeologists achieve their goal to understand those who lived hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of years ago.
For more information, contact Paul Wesolowski at paul.wesolowski@ohaus.com or 973-377-9000 or visit www.ohaus.com.
Adventurer Pro Balances • Frameless, flip-top draftshield offers users easy access to the weighing platform to clean spills or to place/retrieve materials • SmarText software utilizes text prompts to guide users through application use and balance setup • Utilizing a 2-line LCD, SmarText simultaneously displays weight and application-specific information such as percent or count • The QuadraStance design incorporates four adjusting feet to provide footprint stability on any surface • An up-front level indicator eliminates the need to look behind the balance during the leveling process • InCal internal calibration ensures weighing accuracy by allowing users to calibrate the balance prior to use without the need for external weights • Precision balances offer capacities from 51 3 0.001 g to 8,100 3 0.1 g • Analytical balances offer capacities of 65, 110 and 260 g |
Champ II Bench Scales • For set up, users simply attach the display indicator to the stainless steel column and apply power • The factory-calibrated scales offer a one-inch, backlit LCD display and the flexibility of battery or AC power • The IP67 aluminum load cell provides accurate, repeatable results • Modes include parts counting, basic weighing in g, kg, lb, or oz, and display hold • The CD-11 indicator has been combined with a 304 stainless steel platter and polyurethane painted steel frame • Capacities range from 30 to 600 lbs • The scales are backed by the Ohaus five-year warranty |
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