Post fieldwork analysis – archaeologyModule: 10004/SU10

Archaeological reports

Dr James Morris

Museum of London

jmorris@animalbones.org

Goal of archaeology

-to understand humanities past

- to understand the activities taking place within a specific region at a specific time

- to understand the formation and use of particular archaeological sites

- to preserve our history through ‘preservation by record’ Does this require interpretation?

Archaeology reports

- Interim: small note on the archaeology, what is there

- Up dated project design (MAP2/ MORPHE): assessment, what is there, how much and what can you do with it, primary interpretations

- Research report (final report, publication report): what is there and here is our final interpretation, integrating other archaeological knowledge

- Articles, books. Summary of what is there, concentration on interpretation

Archaeology reports

- Interim: small note on the archaeology, what is there

- Up dated project design (MAP2/ MORPHE): assessment, what is there, how much and what can you do with it, primary interpretations

- Research report (final report, publication report): what is there and here is our final interpretation, integrating other archaeological knowledge

- Articles, books. Summary of what is there, concentration on interpretation

•What is there?

•How much is there?

•What is the condition?

•What is its potential?

a factual summary. characterising the quantity

and perceived quality of the data contained in the

site archive

a statement of potential of the data contained in

the site archive (i.e. potential to address different levels of

archaeological research questions)

recommendations for storage and curation of

the data contained in the site archive

recommendations for further work (decision

whether or not to proceed to an ‘Analysis’ stage)

What are the outcomes of an assessment?

Assessment report

• Introductionto both why you are doing the project and what it is you

hope to/have found.

Assessment report• Site Location [Where is the site so people can find it]

Assessment report

• Site History [This section should consist of a brief site history gathered from a desk based assessment that should take place prior to work]

Assessment report

• Methodology. How did you carry out each element of the project – How many trenches? Were they hand dug or machine, how deep did you decide to go (until natural? Or until you hit significant archaeology)

Assessment report

• Results. Description of the trenches, contexts and archaeological remains. Remember description not interpretation.

• How big were features, how many fills, what material was recovered from the fills etc.

Assessment report

• Artefacts: What you found. Finds concordance. Overall how much and from where.– Any interesting or unique finds?– Do any of the finds give a date for the archaeology

Assessment report

• Discussion. Interpretation of the results. How was the site created, what activities took place there. How do they fit into the local, regional and national setting. • Research potential – what further research could take place on

the sites archive. What further work would you recommend. (For the assignment what further research would you do if you could)

Assessment report

• Finish with conclusion. Summary of findings and recommendations. – Acknowledgments (if any)– Bibliography– Appendix. Further site date, any specialist

reports etc.

So – Assessment archaeology report (no more than 2,000 words)

- Introduction to the site, archaeological background

- What were the aims and objectives

- Factual data (what did the excavation produce)

- Assessment of the site(s) potential (what can and needs to happen next for the finds)

- Revision of the project’s aims and objectives, so what are the next questions you want to answer?

If you want to look at examples of archaeological reports in various shapes and sizes

then ADS is the place. http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archives/view/greylit/