by Matthew Law 

The word 'archaeology' generally refers to the study of the human past through its material remains and environmental evidence, although the techniques of archaeology have also been applied to understanding the present (Swain 2007: 12). In some contexts, particularly criminal investigations, 'archaeology' can also refer to the scientific recovery of information and evidence from the ground. An archaeological site could be the buried remains of an early settlement, a standing building or monument, a sunken ship, a refuse pile, an entire landscape, or any number of other spaces which reflect human activity in the past. Archaeology seeks to understand humanity's cultural and environmental history, and often seeks to provide information which can be applied to the present. There are numerous methods of investigating an archaeological site, of which excavation is perhaps the better known. Excavation is a destructive process however, and so an adequate recording system is essential. Non-destructive methods of archaeological investigation inlcude geophysical survey, aerial photography, recording standing remains, and fieldwalking (also known as pedestrian survey).

References

Swain, H., 2007. An Introduction to Museum Archaeology (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) 

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