quadrant excavation

quadrant excavation (quadrant method) [Me].
A system of excavating circular or near-circular archaeological sites and features such as round barrows, ring cairns, pits, or round houses where the entity to be examined is divided into four equal sectors or quadrants. The removal of two alternate quadrants provides a complete transverse section along each of the major axes and thus allows good control over the stratigraphy. Variations in the method include leaving cross baulks along the main axes and staggering the baulks so that complete sections are retained while the central area is excavated.