Field Method in Archaeology: Overview

Introduction

Most archaeological research depends, directly or indirectly, on information recovered in the field, primarily as a result of campaigns of survey and excavation. The way field projects are designed, implemented, analyzed, and published is summarised here and reviewed in a number of case studies (see Cross-references).

Much of the archaeological resourceis vulnerable to disturbance from the exigencies of modern life, and may be destroyed through the construction of roads (motorways) and buildings, especially in towns. Even in open country and desert, the surface is subject to continual attrition. Archaeological investigation therefore demands work to be of the highest quality and precision, designed to maximize information while it is still detectable and wherever possible to conserve deposits in the ground. While much field method is directly applied to research questions, much more effort goes in recording archaeological sites that are likely to be damaged by modern...