CHAPTER 3 : Excavation

Despite growing awareness of the geophysical fieldwork techniques described in chapter 2, excavation is still widely perceived as the main purpose of archaeology. It incorporates two approaches that frequently conflict: the exposure of vertical sequences of deposits that reflect the long-term occupation of a site, and the recovery of horizontal plans of individual features or particular periods of occupation. The most important development of the early twentieth century was improved understanding of the vertical aspect, and the use of carefully-placed trenches and vertical sections to reveal and record it. From the 1950s large open-area excavations - frequently conducted in 'rescue' circumstances - inspired new ways of understanding vertical relationships while shifting the main focus from general sequences to specific actions and events.
I will present the process of excavation in the following sequence:

1. how excavation methods developed to take account of stratification;

2. how a particular site is selected for study;

3. the background research that precedes excavation;

4. the implementation of excavation strategy;

5. problems of specific kinds of sites such as caves or burials, and excavating in difficult environments;

6. methods by which different forms of sites, features and structures are excavated;

7. systems of recording structures, sequences of deposits, and finds;

8. the processing of site records and finds for publication.