Which of the following best describes horizontal excavations in archaeology?

Horizontal excavations are specifically designed to uncover the spatial relationships between features within a site, allowing archaeologists to understand how various elements are arranged across a broader area. This type of excavation focuses on uncovering a large area of a site horizontally, which helps to reveal the context of artifacts, structures, and other archaeological features in relation to one another. By employing this method, archaeologists can gain insights into the layout of the site, how activities may have been organized, and the relationships between different cultures or time periods.

In contrast to this approach, vertical excavations aim to dig deeper into specific areas, often to uncover sequential layers of occupation or features over time. The other options either misrepresent the nature of horizontal excavations or focus on aspects that do not capture the primary purpose and methodology of this excavation type. For instance, while smaller scales may occur, it is not a defining characteristic of horizontal excavations. Similarly, the emphasis on deep probing or surface artifacts pertains more to vertical excavations and site surveys, respectively.