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Had to choose between a total site dig or a targeted trench at a Roman villa near Verona

The budget only covered one approach, so we went with the 2-meter trench along the north wall to check for a hypocaust system. It worked perfectly and we found the heating channels intact under just 30cm of soil. Has anyone else faced a similar 'big dig or small probe' choice on a tight schedule?
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4 Comments
kai_webb91
kai_webb9116d ago
Has that ever happened to you on a project where you just knew the right spot and it paid off? I had a similar call on a medieval site in the UK once, only had time for one trench before the weather turned. We gambled on a 1-meter cut near the chapel foundation and hit a whole crypt floor. It's a good feeling when a small probe saves the day, especially when the budget's tight. Sounds like you made the right call here.
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lewis.mila
lewis.mila2mo ago
Only 30 centimeters of dirt over a Roman heating system? That's practically right on the surface. I figured you'd be digging down meters for something like that.
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jakewhite
jakewhite2mo ago
Actually @lewis.mila, that dirt builds up over centuries.
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jamie_adams
Guess I'd better tell @jakewhite my garden's probably sitting on a villa then.
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