Green archaeological excavation

Green archaeological excavation or EcoDig is a new approach in the world of archaeology with the aim of minimizing the damage to the environment and to plant and animal life during the course of an archaeological excavation. This approach is reflected by concern for the excavated area itself, for the flora and fauna in this area, and in the choice of materials and sources of energy used in the ongoing process of excavation work.
Archaeological activity more than often involves the excavation of extensive tracts and scooping out enormous quantities of earth. This excavation work and the subsequent disposal of the dug up earth cause far-reaching alterations in the landscape and affects plant and animal life.
History
The idea was born in 2008 during the excavation project in Hippos- Sussita, on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee, which has been conducted annually since the year 2000 under the supervision of Professor Arthur Segal and Dr. Michael Eisenberg on behalf of the Zinman Institute of Archaeology, University of Haifa in israel. A member of the youth group of the JNF Scouts organization that regularly volunteers at the excavation remarked about the scores of disposable plates and cutlery used at breakfast time at the excavation site. By the following year their use was totally suspended. No extra cost or mess was caused; on the contrary, the transition to washable tableware saved expense and made meals more enjoyable without the accompanying refuse of disposable articles.
This specific change was the one that prompted Eisenberg to undertake a more significant reform by raising the awareness of green archaeology among archaeological expeditions. In cooperation with “Green Campus” at the University of Haifa, the logo EcoDig was created and recommendations were drawn up with general guidelines. Eisenberg together with “Green Campus” decided to be the first to promote “green archaeology” and encourage others to join them. One of their primary targets is to turn the Hippos-Sussita excavation site, which is part of the Sussita National Park (National Parks Authority), into one of the first sites of its kind in the world that will be developed as an archaeological park open to the public in the framework of totally environment-friendly infrastructures.
Aims and methods
The method basically concerns the raising of awareness for the preservation of the environment during the course of an archaeological excavation and as part of the policy of developing archaeological sites open to the public. This includes estimating the amount of damage that might be caused to the environment during excavation work and after its completion, the effect upon plant and animal life in the area of the excavation site, the search for ways to minimize damage during the excavation and afterwards by choosing environment-friendly alternatives such as reducing the use of disposable utensils and increasing the utilization of green energy.
Archaeology institutes and various excavation expedition teams, who are interested in the incorporation of green archaeology awareness into their activities, are invited to adopt the EcoDig logo attached herewith and adding the name of their institute or team so as to include the logo within it. The use of the logo is free and obliges the team only in raising awareness of green archaeology.
Below are a number of recommendations and points to reduce environmental damage cause during archaeological excavations. Because of the great variety of excavations and locations in which they take place, whether in urban surroundings, open area, or in nature reserves, no sweeping recommendations can be made for every site, and the archaeologist must assess and determine what is possible in his case to reduce environmental damage to the minimum.
Strategies
#Discontinue use of disposable utensils.
#Increase use of rechargeable batteries instead of regular ones.
#Remove refuse from the site at the end of excavation work.
#Use chemical toilets.
#Use alternative energy based on solar, wind, or water energy.
#Minimize disturbance to life in the site surroundings. Adapt the excavation season and type of work tools to the breeding and nesting season in excavation area.
#Reduce the number of environmental “scars” resulting from excavation work.
#Remove excess earth to places where the damage is minimal, as far as this is possible.
#Estimate the damage and attempt to minimize environmental damage at the end of excavation work.

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