What are 5 steps in undertaking an archaeological study?

Simplified into 5 stages these are the steps involved in any study of an archaeological site.

1. Survey: Identify where your site is. This might be done by "desktop survey", which involves looking at maps, historical records, old reports and areal photographs for documentary evidence that a site is known or recorded in the area. Alternatively it may involve practical survey such as fieldwalking where evidence of archaeological activity is seen on the ground.

2. Research proposal: No excavation can go ahead without money. In order to secure funding it is necessary to state how your excavation will add to the understanding of that particular time period, geographic area and people. Although your research agenda may well change (you cant know what you are going to find exactly until you find it) it is a vital part of the study

3. Excavation: This is where you gather the majority of your data. The site, the archaeological features (ditches, house foundations, ramparts etc) and all the artifacts must be systematically excavated, planned and recorded.

4. Analysis and Report: All the records and artifacts are returned to an office. Here all the information is considered as a whole and interpretations of the site and the activities that took place there are made. This is then written up into a report for publication, so others know what you have found and your findings can add to the understanding of the archaeological record.

5. Preservation: The finds from the site, the excavation records and reports are sent to a museum or archive for preservation.