The ROMFA Archaeological Recording Manual The ROMFA Archaeology Recording System is comprised of a series of modules each covering an aspect of fieldwork. The primary function of the manual is to act as an efficient guide to the ROMFA context recording procedure; this manual also includes procedures that relate specifically to good recording practice The ROMFA acronym stands for Rare, Occasional, Moderate, Frequent and Abundant and is used to describe the relative frequency of inclusions within archaeological deposits. www.norvicarchaeology.com giles.emery@norvicarchaeology.com
THE ROMFA CONTEXT RECORDING SYSTEM CONTENTS Introduction 1 1. Recording Sheets 2 2. Basic Recording Conventions 2 3. General Fields 4 Historical Period Table 6 4. Post-Excavation Fields 8 5. Relationship Fields 9 Stratigraphic Relationship 9 Brief Principles of Matrices 9 Physical Relationships 11 6. Cross Referencing Fields 13 7. Context Register Sheets 15 8. Deposit Sheets 16 9. Cut Sheets 31 10. Excavation and Recording of Human Burials 38 ROMFA Skeleton Sheet 45 Human Skeletal Remains Identification Diagram 50 11. Masonry Sheets 53 12. Timber Sheets 57 Types of Timber Joints 61 Examples of Timber Joints 62 13. Master Sheets 63 14. Samples and Sample Sheets 64 15. Trench Sheets 71 16. Standard Finds Recovery on Archaeological Sites 73 On Site Finds Packaging 75 17. Photographic Recording on Archaeological Sites 78 Photographic Sheets 83 18. Archaeological Site Drawings 85 Essential Site Drawing Conventions and Procedures 89 Practical Guidelines for Section Drawings 98 Planning Methods 101 Taking Levels 107
ROMFA RECORDING SYSTEM - V1 2011 location, such as a particular trench or area within a trench) or to allow for a more detailed record of a particular deposit. Always consult with your Supervisor before assigning context numbers to such deposits to ensure that a consistent approach is employed throughout the duration of the project. Horizons Depth TOPSOIL 0.15 OF STUBBLE BURNING. BRICK RUBBLE 0.15 Compaction/Colour/Composition/Further Comments AN ACTIVE, FRIABLE, MID BROWN SANDY LOAM, EVIDENCE CONSOLIDATION SPREAD CLOSE TO FIELD ENTRANCE-WAY. 0.40 FIRM, MID-ORANGEY-BROWN SILTY-SAND, OCC. ROOTLETS SUBSOIL (105) AND CHARCOAL FLECKS. MOD. SMALL STONES (IRREG.). HAS DIFFUSE BOUNDARY WITH COLLUVIUM BELOW. SOME SLAG FRAGS COLLECTED DURING MACHINING. 0.30 SOFT, PALE-GREY SANDY-SILT. STERILE. GETS COLLUVIUM DEEPER AT VERY END (N.E END) OF THE TRENCH (0.45M). NATURAL LOOSE, BRIGHT-ORANGE SAND. OCC. STRIPING OF PALE YELLOW SILTY-SAND. 15.6 CONTEXT ASSIGNED FEATURES All features discovered by the trench should be listed here. 15.7 MODERN/NATURAL FEATURES Modern/natural features should be described and summarised in the free text part of the sheet if context numbers were not assigned to them. Context Assigned Features: PIT [06], POSTHOLE [11], DITCH [14], DISCRETE ASHY LAYER (17) Further Description, Interpretation & Discussion : PLOUGH SCARS IN THE SURFACE OF THE SUBSOIL UP TO 0.10M DEEP. FREQUENT AMORPHOUS ROOT ACTION NOTED DURING MACHINING OF SUBSOIL AT NORTHERN END OF THE TRENCH. FIELD DRAIN RUNNING E TO W AT N. END OF THE TRENCH. PIT [06] CONTAINED FREQ. BURNT FLINT + SEALED BELOW ASHY LAYER (17). DITCH [14] V-SHAPED IN PROFILE, 1M WIDE + X4?ROMANO-BRITISH POT FRAGS RECOVERED FROM UPPER FILL (15). 15.8 LEVEL INFORMATION Particularly when scale drawings are unnecessary as part of the trench record it is vital that level information is still recorded as part of an annotated sketch on this sheet. Often trenches will be placed on sloping ground and an appropriate number of levels should be made to allow for the top of the trench to be compared with its depth along its full length. giles.emery@norvicarchaeology.com 72