Once a French house site at Old Mobile is uncovered by careful excavation, the archaeologists map and photograph the soil features revealed beneath the surface. Differences in soil color and texture are valuable clues to the location and nature of the structures. The reddish soil color evident here was caused by Structure 5 being destroyed by fire.

You can see the excavation team demonstrating recording procedures. On the left, Catherine Potter sketches a 2x2 meter excavation unit using a plotting frame. On the tower, Jody Badillo photographs the site, while Warren Carruth uses a surveyor's transit to pinpoint the location of a feature at the spot designated by Amy Carruth, who holds a metric stadia rod.