Techniques used in archeological field surveys

Abstract

As with radiocarbon dating also the subject of archaeological prospecting now has a reasonably long and full development. Even so it is probable that there remain those both on the archae­ological and on the scientific side who are not completely clear as to what has and can be done. Thus it was most opportune that the present paper could be included in the symposium in the hope that this may encourage even further use and development of the methods. While there exist a whole range of possible techniques for archaeological field surveys those of geophysical prospecting enter most closely within the general topic of this symposium and so will mainly be concentrated upon. In all cases the basic aim of any survey will be that of discovering information on buried archaeological sites either before or instead of excavation. The value of such information in part depends on the fact that normally the archaeological deposits will not be disturbed while almost always the surveying can be carried out relatively rapidly; at least compared to the time required for excavation. This gaining of information on the hidden archaeological features is the main reason for the use of prospecting methods. However their value for archaeology has been greatly increased as a result of the difficulties caused by modern developments. So many of these tend to result in damage to or even complete destruction of archaeological sites. Often either the existence of a site or its exact extent will be unknown with the result that there is no chance to undertake an adequate investigation before all is lost. If a sufficiently clear idea could be obtained sufficiently quickly then much more could be done. Such applications represent one of the most important aids offered to archae­ology by prospecting techniques. Even so it must not be forgotten that they have much to offer irrespective of these present-day practical problems and it is worth underlining their value in giving information, often in some detail, without any disturbance to the archaeological features.