MAP: Excavation Methodology

The paper argues the case that, while archaeological practice involves the application of multiple methods and techniques, excavation is historically rooted as the core method of the discipline, conditioning all the others. Excavation is to archaeology as ethnography is to social anthropology. It is not only a principal ground of archaeological knowledge production. In a fundamental sense, excavation is constitutive of what it is to be an archaeologist.

Oikarinen T (2014) Developing Archaeological Excavation Data Management: An Archaeological Viewpoint of a Local Case Example. W Börner & S Uhlirz (eds) Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Cultural Heritage and New Technologies, November 11–13, 2013 Vienna, Austria. Museen der Stadt Wien – Stadtarchäologie.

2022

SUMMARY: This pdf of a power point summary lecture serves as a guide for either TEST no.2 (end-of-term) for the in-class version of Anth.106 (Introduction to Archaeology), or TAKE-HOME no.2 (end-of-term assignment) for the online class version of the same course. It provides a summary of 25 selected, key concepts and an example extracted from the textbook (Renfrew and Bahn, 2019 [8th edition]), in part-1, and the summary notes from the special lectures in part-2. The summary covers such post-excavation analysis options, including assessing (a) technology, (b) trade, contact, and exchange, (c) cognitive aspects (religion; language; art; etc.), (d) appearance (bio-archaeology; health; diet; clothing; etc.), and (e) processes of change. It also considers some benefits of archaeology for people today. POSTED: May 3, 2022.

2023

SUMMARY: This pdf of a power point summary lecture serves as a guide for either TEST no.1 (mid-term) for the in-class version of Anth.106 (Introduction to Archaeology), or TAKE-HOME no.1 (mid-term assignment) for the online class version of the same course. It provides a summary of 25 selected, key concepts and an example extracted from the textbook (Renfrew and Bahn, 2019 [8th edition]), in part-1, and the summary notes from the special lectures in part-2. The summary covers such things as research design, finding sites (regional survey), how to select where to excavate on a given site, some excavation and recording techniques, and some post-excavation analysis options. POSTED: May 2023.

Archaeological Survey & Exploration: Its Method and Techniques, 2017

The interest of the present generation in the archaeological sites and heritage of hundreds years ago has been increasing day by day. In view of this interest of the present generation, the archaeological survey and exploration is also getting importance. The selection of a specific area and historic period is very important at the beginning of the archaeological survey and exploration. Then the aims and objectives of this survey and exploration are to be decided. Archaeological survey and exploration work is performed by a few steps.

A methodological study of the two major systems of excavation techniques and recording systems in use in Levantine archaeology in 1986.