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 then provides a clear account of contemporary techniques, covering pre-excavation reconnaissance and site evaluation, the preparations for full excavation, the actual process of excavation, and the recording of photographic, spatial, stratigraphic and physical evidence. A final chapter discusses the future of excavation. This manual will be welcomed by the professional excavator, the academic researcher, 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.
