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 provides a clear account of pre-excavation reconnaissance and site evaluation, the preparations for full excavation, the process of excavation, and the recording of photographic, spatial, stratigraphic, and physical evidence. This manual will be welcomed by the professional excavator, academic researchers, students, and the interested amateur.

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.