Troweling the Subsoil

Removing the plow zone exposes a lighter colored earth below called subsoil. At Occaneechi Town the subsoil consists of a tan-colored, stiff clay. The surface of this layer is meticulously scraped, or shaved, with sharpened trowels in order to remove all the loose soil and roots. Troweling reveals the undisturbed archaeological remnants of Occaneechi Town.

Students troweling a large excavated area at Occaneechi Town.