Archeological Survey: Methods and Uses

To non-archeologists, one of the deeper "mysteries" of the historic preservation program seems to concern the methods of identification and assessment of archeological properties and utilization of this information in project planning and compliance processes. Misunderstanding and misinformation about these activities are very common. To clarify some of these questions, Dr. Thomas F. King prepared a manual on the methods and objectives of archeological survey that would in large part be addressed to non-archeologists so that they might gain a greater understanding of the nature of archeological resources. Particularly valuable in Dr. King's discussion is his description of the formation of the archeological record in a hypothetical locality, and then, how this record might have come to be known to archeologists today through various kinds of survey efforts. This is an excellent description of how the archeological record actually has become known in many areas of the United States. Through this means, the reader should gain an understanding of what "existing survey data" enable us to conclude; or, better stated, what they do not permit us to conclude about the archeological resources of an area.对于非考古专业人士而言，历史遗产保护项目中颇具迷惑性的核心议题之一，当属考古遗存的识别与评估方法，以及如何在项目规划与合规流程中运用此类信息。针对此类工作的误解与不实信息极为常见。为厘清上述疑问，托马斯·F·金（Thomas F. King）博士编写了一本讲解考古调查方法与目标的手册，其主要受众为非考古专业人士，以期帮助他们更深入地理解考古资源的本质属性。金博士的论述中极具价值的部分，在于他对假想区域内考古记录形成过程的阐释，以及该记录如何通过各类考古调查工作，最终为当代考古学者所认知。这一阐释极佳地还原了美国诸多区域内考古记录被认知的实际路径。通过阅读本手册，读者将能够明晰：现有的调查数据能够支撑我们就某一区域的考古资源得出哪些结论——更准确地说，是能够明确这些数据无法支撑哪些结论。