Glossary of standard archaeologcial
terms
(As defined by the Institute for Archaeologists)
Building investigation and recording
The definition of archaeological building investigation and recording
(ABIR) is a programme of work intended to establish the character,
history, dating, form and archaeological development of a specified
building, or structure, or complex and its setting, including its buried
components, on land, inter-tidal zone or under water.
Desk-based assessment
The definition of desk-based assessment is a programme of assessment
of the known and potential archaeological resource within a specified
area or site on land, inter-tidal zone or underwater. It consists of
a collation of existing written, graphic, photographic and electronic
information in order to identify the likely character, extent, quality
and worth of the known or potential archaeological resource in a local,
regional, national or international context as appropriate.
Evaluation
The definition of archaeological field evaluation is a limited programme
of non-intrusive and/or intrusive fieldwork which determines of the
presence or absence of archaeological features, structures, deposits,
artefacts or ecofacts within a specified area or site on land, inter-tidal
zone or underwater. If such archaeological remains are present field
evaluation defines their character, extent, quality and preservation,
and enables an assessment of their worth in a local, regional, national
or international context as appropriate.
Excavation
The definition of archaeological excavation is a programme of controlled,
intrusive fieldwork with defined research objectives which examines,
records and interprets archaeological deposits, features and structures
and, as appropriate, retrieves artefacts, ecofacts and other remains
within a specified area or site on land, inter-tidal zone or underwater.
The records made and objects gathered during fieldwork are studied
and the results of that study published in detail appropriate to the
project design.
Geophysical Survey
Archaeological geophysical survey uses non-intrusive and non-destructive
techniques to determine the presence or absence of anomalies likely
to be caused by archaeological features, structures or deposits, as
far as reasonably possible, within a specified area or site on land,
in the inter-tidal zone or underwater. Geophysical survey determines
the presence of anomalies of archaeological potential through measurement
of one or more physical properties of the subsurface.
Scheduled Monument
An ancient monument or archaeological deposits designated by the Welsh
Ministers, through Cadw, as a ' Scheduled Ancient Monument ' and therefore
protected under the Ancient Monuments Act 1979.
Watching brief
The definition of an archaeological watching brief is a formal programme
of observation and investigation conducted during any operation carried
out for non-archaeological reasons. This will be within a specified
area or site on land, inter-tidal zone or underwater, where there is
a possibility that archaeological deposits may be disturbed or destroyed.
The programme will result in the preparation of a report and ordered
archive. The term does not include chance observations, which should
lead to an appropriate archaeological project being designed and implemented,
nor does it include monitoring for preservation of remains in situ.
