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Research Led Excavation
Research excavations take place to investigate archaeological sites for research purposes rather than as a response
to new developments. They may be carried out by academic archaeologists or local amateur archaeological societies,
and may seek answers to particular questions, such as the date or function of a cropmark, or a group of earthworks.
If a site is newly-discovered, a research dig may take place to confirm its identification.
'Pure' research digs are quite rare, more commonly they are combined with other purposes, such as training students
in excavation methods, public education and community development, or as part of a conservation plan to provide
better information on a building or monument which is to be preserved. Ideally, all digs should be research-orientated
- even development related excavations should be geared up to serving research priorities. If the research dig
(or indeed any ground disturbance) is planned to take place on a protected monument, official permission called
'scheduled monument consent' must be obtained before going ahead.
One reason that research excavations are less common than development related excavations, and when they do take
place they are combined with as many other purposes as possible, is that it is very difficult to obtain adequate
funding for research digs alone. Field training, public information and education, and even making television
programmes, all help to generate enough resources to pay for the research.
Return to Choosing a Site.
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