PPS 6 Planning Archaeology and the Built Heritage·Page 19·3.16
Excavation Recording as Secondary Option
Excavation and recording of archaeological remains is considered a second-best option to physical preservation in situ, as it destroys evidence that future techniques might extract more information from, and is expensive and time-consuming.
The excavation recording of remains is regarded by the Department as a second best option to their physical preservation. The science of archaeology is developing rapidly and excavation means the total destruction of evidence (apart from removable objects) from which future techniques could almost certainly extract more information than is currently possible. Excavation is also expensive and time consuming, and discoveries may have to be evaluated in a hurry against an inadequate research framework. The preservation in situ of important archaeological remains is therefore always to be preferred.
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