Survey and Excavation (Field Methods) in Archaeology

Abstract

This article presents a general introduction to the subject of archaeological field methods, and therefore does not deal with many distinct areas or challenges to the discipline. Archaeology is a dynamic, inherently interdisciplinary field of study in that new research techniques continue to revolutionize its modes of thought and methods, and researchers are asking different questions of the data today from those they asked only a few years ago. On both scientific and theoretical fronts, therefore, the field is developing at a fast pace. In the past few years, archaeology has become a global discipline with many researchers applying the same systems such as geographic information systems along with aerial reconnaissance and remote sensing. We begin with ‘archaeology’ as a term, and cover a brief history of the discipline, its importance, types of archaeological sites, fields of archaeological study, and dating systems used in the discipline. The focus then changes to survey, excavation and ethical considerations, excavation and the modern developments in the discipline.