Introduction
Archaeologists seek to reconstruct the past through the material record. In doing so, they produce a body of data of their own – the archaeological archive. Without these associated materials that document the fine details of an excavation, the artifacts themselves, however impressive, run the risk of losing much of their intrinsic value as tools for understanding past human experience.
Definition
Archaeologists document an excavation thoroughly, beginning well before the ground is broken with background research and development of a research design. During fieldwork, excavators create detailed maps and drawings, take photographs, and make extensive and detailed field notes. Once the excavation is complete, artifacts and specimens may be conserved and analyzed and the archaeological site interpreted in the form of a final report, scholarly work, or publication. Together, these supporting components make up archaeological archives.
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References
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Smith, J.L.U. (2020). Archaeological Archives. In: Smith, C. (eds) Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-30018-0_315
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-30018-0_315
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