When archaeologists go into the field to excavate, they generally pass up excellent opportunities to contribute to ethnology, physical anthropology, linguistics, or some other branch of this ever-widening subject of anthropology. Before undertaking such extracurricular research, the archaeologist must familiarize himself with the general ethnography of his region. Such tools as the Outline of Cultural Materials (1950) and Notes and Queries on Anthropology, Sixth Edition (1951), can be used to obtain such ethnographic control.

By hiring workmen the archaeologist creates a unique research tool — an artificial small group within an already functioning society. This group is artificial in the sense that it does not arise from the society itself, and is likely to cease functioning after the departure of the diggers. The artificial small group consists of locally hired workmen, plus the archaeological party, and seldom numbers over 50. This artificially created group will become a “face to face” or “natural group” (Coon 1948: 563) as it meets from day to day.