Sondage

{{Short description|Archaeological process}}

A sondage is an archaeological process to clarify stratigraphic sequences during preliminary investigations of the terrain prior to an archaeological dig. In a narrower sense it is a "deep trial trench for inspecting stratigraphy".[https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/sondage sondage] at collinsdictionary.com. Retrieved 10 December 2021.

In doing so, several approximately {{Convert|1|m2|ft2|abbr=on}} test excavations are carried out over the area, as far as possible down to the 'natural soil' level{{clarify|reason=what does "natural soil level" mean?|date=March 2025}}. Clearly recognizable layers of sediment (possibly created by hiatuses or fire horizons) allow an initial overview, and individual finds made in the process can be assigned to a specific layer in suitable 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 sondage.{{clarify|date=March 2025}}