why is it not always possible or appropriate to excavate an archaelogical site?

Answer 1

Factors include:-
When it would endanger the lives of the archaeologists.
When it would risk too much destruction of the evidence.
When money is limited - other techniques are cheaper such as geophysics.
Where permission from the landowner has not been gained.
Where permission from the Home Office has not been gained in the case of excavating places containing human skeletal remains.
Where an excavation would not provide any further information to understand a site.
Where permission has not been gained from English Heritage to excavate scheduled sites that are protected.
When an excavation would upset the majority of the public, e.g. Seahenge in Norfolk.
When resources are not available to protect any finds that are discovered - the finds are safer being left in the ground unexcavated until suitable resources are in place.

What you have to remember, is that excavation is the most destructive, expensive and time consuming process in archaeology. Most other non-invasive techniques are usually employed first. Secondly, when a site is excavated, it is rarely fully excavated due to time and money constraints. Instead, a sample of the site is excavated, especially on sites that are going to be developed or built on.

Answer 2

Because most people want to do everything fast. Archaeology is a science and it takes time to excavate a site so as not to lose the integrity of what they are trying to accomplish. I mean they can figure out what and how the people who lived at a certain time actually lived just by how teeth were worn down. That is one reason they use small brushes so as not to miss anything. Archaeology is a great field to get into. Contrary to what the early British archaeologist believed not everything has been discovered yet and there is still a lot out there to be found and analyzed. My favorite quote by Henry David Thoreau "There is more in the Earth than the minds of men can conceive" is very appropriate for people in the archaeological field. Amateurs tend to disregard the time it takes to excavate a site and so destroy a lot that shouldn't have excavated without proper supervision.

Answer 3

You can't simply just start excavating a proposed site as you have to get permission from the governing authority in the area. Sometimes there is simply no time to set up a dig. In Egypt the rate of building very rapid in certain parts and sometimes the funds and man power are not available to dig prospective sites before the contractors move in. There's also war to think about. I believe that the site near to the Euphrates whichis thought to have been Ancient Babylon, now Iraq is hampered by the war.

Answer 4

You have to have the permission of local governments, the government has to be stable, and the area to be excavated has got to be reasonably safe for workers. You also have to have enough funding to make it feasible.

In the United States some sites are not protected and minimal excavations are made because of pending construction. These sites are not unique. They are briefly investigated and their locations recorded before construction commences.

On large sites, like the one at Bath, England, there was a major study of the old Roman bath structures underneath the modern construction, then the site was sealed up again for the benefit of future generations. The modern structures are in use and will continue to be used.

Answer 5

Once you have located the site you have to report to convened
authorities,take permission to do excavation if there is no objection from the owner of the site.My daughter had to do this for her Dissertation in outskirts of our city,
There was no problem when it was done the way I mentioned

Answer 6

- If the land has a history of chemicals etc.
- If you do not get permission from the land owner.
- If you cannot get the relevant co-operation from utilitiy companies (they tried to find a spitfire that crashed in central London, they had to work with about 10 different organisations !!!).
- If it has been built over.

Answer 7

Too dangerous
Attempting to access it might damage the site or something nearby (It's located underneath something like Buckingham Palace)
Cultural factors - Burials, Religious sites
Financial reasons- Too expensive

Answer 8

There are cultural factors and proximity to a current living area that could get in the way. You can't just go in and rope off a section of a village people are living in just because you're curious.

Answer 9

you may damage a possible find of the century, it's not like the barbarian days, archaeology is a delicate balance of patience and research

Answer 10

Why is that in Egypt,they are always digging up mummies,never daddies,weird,aint it?