A beginners guide to how archaeology works

Most research programmes involve an initial reconnaissance phase (or appraisal) followed an evaluation exercise (involving desk-based research and non-intrusive and intrusive survey). This leads to a reporting phase, at which research objectives are assessed and priorities established. At this point there is a divergence between those programmes of work that progress to archaeological sampling and research and those which set out to conserve archaeological landscapes. In both cases there are problems and challenges in what to do on the conclusion of fieldwork: involving the study of the results obtained, the management of the resources encountered, the interpretative synthesis of results and their dissemination