Archaeology in France

Archaeological research consists of field operations, surveys and excavations, which can be planned or preventive, furniture studies and analyses.
This research is part of a broader framework of knowledge, protection, conservation and exploitation of archaeological heritage.

The DRAC program archaeological research, prescribe and authorize operations, protect archaeological heritage.

The stages of research

♦ The Literature Review

Archaeological research begins with an inventory of the available knowledge about the area to be studied and its context: an analysis of historical and archaeological literature as well as available manuscript sources, graphic documents (land registers and land plans), oral surveys of the inhabitants.

♦ Prospecting
Archaeological exploration allows to evaluate the potential of the chosen territory. It is a question of identifying traces of human occupation by non-destructive methods and of inventorying them in a methodical and reasoned way.
The traces are observable with the naked eye (walking, aerial prospecting) or by geophysical methods (electrical, magnetic, electromagnetic prospecting).

♦ Site Assessment
The next step may be the implementation of surveys to establish an assessment of traces of human occupations still preserved.

♦ The excavation
Then the excavation of the discovered remains can begin.
The excavation involves the careful exploration of all identified structures and their recording by various plans, sections, photographs, notes and sheets.

♦ Post-excavation
After the field study, we enter a new phase of the research, post-excavation work: clearing of the field documents, study of the discovered material, execution of additional studies and necessary analyses, work of synthesis and writing of texts.

♦ The transaction report
Post-excavation work leads to the preparation of a report that presents the results of the operation and their interpretation. This report makes it possible to assess the contribution of the archaeological operation to general historical knowledge.

♦ The publication
The final transaction report is published in the form of a monograph or summary articles.

The diversity of methods

Archaeological research does not consist only in describing and dating monuments and objects, but in trying to restore all aspects of people’s lives over the millennia.

The use of dating methods based, among other things, on radioactivity, and physical and chemical analyses, of relatively recent use in archaeology, have opened up new fields of study for archaeological research.

Interdisciplinarity

The archaeologist cannot be an isolated researcher. Excavation is the work of a team of many specialists.

The research is conducted by an archaeologist who coordinates the intervention of many specialists: geomorphologist, palynologist, ceramicist, anthropologist...

Natural scientists: geologists and geomorphologists, botanists, palynologists and zoologists contribute in the field and in the laboratory to know the ancient natural environment in which the human activities uncovered have developed.

They help to better understand the way of life, the exploitation of mineral, animal and plant resources, trade...