Drawing its numerous examples from Britain and beyond, Archaeological Investigation explores the procedures used in field archaeology travelling over the whole process from discovery to publication.


Divided into 4 parts, it argues for a set of principles in Part 1, describes work in the field in Part 2 and how to write up in Part 3. Part 4 describes the modern world in which all types of archaeologist operate, academic and professional. The central chapter 'Projects Galore' takes the reader on a whirlwind tour through different kinds of investigation including in caves, gravel quarries, towns, historic buildings and underwater.


Archaeological Investigation intends to be a companion for a newcomer to professional archaeology - from a student introduction (Part 1), to first practical work (Part 2) to the first responsibilities for producing reports (Part 3) and in Part 4 to the tasks of project design and heritage curation that provide the meat and drink of the fully fledged professional.


The book also proposes new ways of doing things, tried out over the author's thirty years in the field and here brought together for the first time. This is no plodding manual but an inspiring, provocative, informative and entertaining book, urging that archaeological investigation is one of the most important things society does.

Martin Carver specialises in the archaeology of early Medieval Europe and field archaeology in all periods. He was a free-lance archaeologist from 1972 until 1986, when he was appointed professor and head of department at the University of York. Since 2003 he has been editor of the journal Antiquity.

Part 1: Principles 1. The Stuff 2. Approaches 3. Field Research Procedure: A Framework Part 2: In the Field 4. Landscape Survey 5. Site Survey 6. Excavation 7. Projects Galore Part 3: Writing Up 8. Analysis 9. Assemblage 10. Space 11. Chronology 12. Synthesis 13. Publication Part 4: Design 14. Evaluation and Project Design 15. Our Profession and its Context. Glossary. Sources and Resources