Comparing two excavation grids taught me more than any textbook

Last summer I volunteered on a dig outside Santa Fe, and we had two teams using different grid methods, one with string and pins, the other with a total station. The string team kept having to re-measure because the wind kept shifting the lines, and after two days we realized some of our depth readings were off by nearly 4 inches. The total station team finished their section in half the time and their records matched up perfectly when we compared notes. Has anyone else found that fancy equipment is worth the setup hassle on smaller sites, or do you stick with the old-school tools?

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the_robin3d ago

Honestly, that story takes me back. Tbh, the first time I used a total station I was so nervous I kept bumping the tripod and had to redo the setup like five times. But once I got it locked in, it was night and day. Ngl though, I still love the feel of a good old string line, even if the wind always wins in the end. Maybe the real lesson is that both methods teach you to respect the ground, just in different ways.