2 - Recording the archaeology of London: the development and implementation of the DUA recording system

Abstract

Any attempt to describe the structure and function of an archeological recording system is bound to be a difficult process, as central elements that seem no more than common sense to those who use the system on a daily basis needs to be carefully explained and clarified. This chapter discusses the development of a recording system employed by the Department of Urban Archeology (DUA) of the Museum of London. The single-context recording system used by the DUA has been the product of many years of excavation and post-excavation experience of many people, while the particular circumstances of intensive urban rescue excavation have lead to continual attempts to refine and improve the system as a whole. The circumstances in which the system was originally formulated link with the development and use of the Harris Matrix. The analysis of single-context records linked by a Harris matrix has allowed reports to be produced rapidly and within a coherent structure. Intra- and inter-site research can be facilitated through matrix analysis, whether approached from stratigraphic, artefactual, or environmental standpoints.