Starting any volcanic site excavation means getting real familiar with the ash layers, since they hide most of the good stuff. When you spot those grayish-white deposits you'll know you're in the right spot but you need to work slow. The first trick is marking out a proper grid system before you even touch anything, keeping at least 2 meters between your trenches to maintain structural integrity. Watch for color changes in the ash as you dig down - darker bands usually mean you're hitting a preserved layer, and that's when you need to switch to brushes and small tools

The real challenge kicks in once you find something interesting. Most folks rush in but timing is crucial here - gently clear around the object first leaving about 5cm of ash buffer, then document everything before you even think about extraction. If you notice any hollow spaces while working definitely stop immediately and prep for casting since those are usually where the good preservation happened. You'll want to position yourself above but slightly offset from your workspace, especially when dealing with delicate remains

The trickiest part comes during the actual removal phase where one wrong move can destroy hours of work. Usually there's a sweet spot right after clearing the top layer where the ash is still firm enough to support but soft enough to work with. Keep your tools angled at about 30 degrees and work inward using short controlled strokes, paying extra attention to any spots where the color or texture changes suddenly. Some people try rushing through this but honestly taking an extra hour here saves days of lab work later