Archaeology in France
'Archaeology is one of the most complicated sciences, because it not only embraces everything that has to do with man, but must also study the natural phenomena that have influenced his life. It can be divided into three distinct parts: exploration, invention and interpretation." J. de Morgan, 1909
Archaeological research in France is conducted by professionals and of volunteers under the control of the Ministry of Culture.
The Ministry is represented in the regions by the regional cultural affairs directorates under the authority of the regional prefect.
The legal framework for archaeological research is defined in Book V of the Heritage Code.
Archaeological research consists of field operations, prospecting and excavations, which may be planned or preventive, of studies of furniture and analyses.
This research is part of a wider acquaintance, of protection, of conservation and of valorization of archaeological heritage.
The DRAC program archaeological research, prescribe and allow the operations, protect the archaeological heritage.
Multiple search: library, field and laboratory
♦ The Literature Review
Archaeological research begins with a inventory of available knowledge on the area to be studied and its context: analysis of historical and archaeological literature as well as available manuscript sources, graphic documents (cadastres and terrier plans), oral surveys of the inhabitants.
♦ Prospecting
The archaeological prospection allows to detect archaeological remains. Traces of human occupation should be identified and inventoried in a methodical and reasoned manner. The traces are observable with the naked eye (walking, aerial prospecting) or by geophysical methods (electrical, magnetic, electromagnetic prospecting).
♦ Site Assessment
Once an archaeological site is detected, it is necessary to assess archaeological potential before embarking on a excavation: it is a question of defining its extension, in planimetry and stratigraphy; its degree of conservation; its dating. In the context of programmed archaeology, we speak of surveys; in preventive archaeology, this is a diagnosis.
♦ The excavation
The excavation involves the careful exploration of all identified structures and their recording by plans, sections, photographs and descriptive sheets.
♦ Post-excavation
After the field study, a new phase of the research, the work of post-excavation These include the preparation of field documents, the study of material discovered, the execution of additional studies and the necessary analyses, and the synthesis and writing of texts.
♦ The transaction report
Post-excavation work leads to the development of a final transaction report which 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 results in a publication 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 being conducted by a 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 lifestyles, the exploitation of mineral, animal and plant resources, trade…
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