Probe

The sondage ( German : Probeschnitt or Digungssondage) is an archaeological process to clarify the sequence of layers in the preliminary investigation of a terrain that is to be excavated .

In doing so, several approximately 1 m² test excavations are distributed over the area, as far as possible down to the "natural ground". Clearly recognizable layers (possibly created by hiatus or fire horizons ) allow an initial overview, and individual finds made in the process can be assigned to a specific layer in favorable cases. In the case of a probe, technical work steps such as the precise measurement of the cut are particularly important.

In a figurative sense, a survey procedure is also called a probe.