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October 04, 2003
Transforming archaeology
The Economist discusses infra-red, microwave and magnetic sensing techniques which afford archaeologists less intrusive means of investigating remains.
SINCE its emergence as a science, archaeology has wrestled with a paradox: discovery involves destruction, and investigation requires intrusion. An archaeological dig cannot be undone. Once a layer has been stripped away, any information not recorded is lost. Most archaeologists have had the experience of trying to discover something new about a site that has been completely excavated, only to find that the question they wanted to ask had not occurred to the original diggers.
Posted by Ghost of a flea at October 4, 2003 08:43 AM