Question

What happens when damage to an archaeological site is inevitable due to practical circumstances?

A) The site is left untouched, and no further action is taken.
B) A detailed record and documentation of the site is created before any necessary excavation.
C) The site is immediately excavated to salvage any artifacts before they are lost.
D) The site is closed to the public, and no further research is conducted.

Answer 1

When an archaeological site must be damaged, a detailed record and documentation are made before excavation to preserve information for future research and maintain the site's archaeological context.

Step-by-step explanation:

When damage to an archaeological site is inevitable due to practical circumstances, the most common and professional approach is B) A detailed record and documentation of the site is created before any necessary excavation. This includes making exhaustive maps, taking photographs, drawing illustrations, and recording specific data about each discovered artifact and its location in situ, ensuring all relevant information is preserved for future research.

If an artifact must be removed, it is assigned a unique catalog number and its exact coordinates are recorded. This process respects the principles of archaeological context, which is essential for understanding the significance of the artifacts within the site's history.