Excavation
Fieldwork in archaeology has been transformed over the past three decades. Drawing on a wealth of experience in excavating some of the most complex, deeply-stratified sites in Britain, Steve Roskams describes the changes that have taken place in the theory and practice of excavation. He then provides a clear account of contemporary techniques, covering pre-excavation reconnaissance and site evaluation, the preparations for full excavation, the actual process of excavation, and the recording of photographic, spatial, stratigraphic and physical evidence. A final chapter discusses the future of excavation. This manual will be welcomed by the professional excavator, the academic researcher, students, and the interested amateur.
- Up-to-date, detailed account of modern approaches to archaeological excavation drawing on a wealth of experience in excavating some of the most complex, deeply stratified sites in Britain and abroad
- Presents background history and philosophy of excavation: the why, as well as how, of digging methods
- Relevant to both long-term research projects and the immediate demands of salvage work
Product details
May 2001Paperback
9780521798013
328 pages
249 × 176 × 24 mm
0.65kg
72 b/w illus.
Available
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- 1. History of the development of techniques
- 2. Excavation in theory
- 3. Pre-excavation strategies
- 4. Excavation in practice: background preparations
- 5. Excavation in practice: preparations on site
- 6. A structured approach to recording
- 7. The photographic record
- 8. The spatial record
- 9. The stratigraphic record
- 10. The descriptive record: deposits
- 11. Non-deposit descriptions
- 12. Excavating the stratigraphic unit
- 13. Stratigraphic analysis
- 14. Future prospects.