Types of report
Each different stage of archaeological work is reported in particular type of document: the first three by desk based assessment; evaluation report; and watching brief report. Some or all stages of work may also be preceded by a written scheme of investigation, which describes in detail how that stage of work will be carried out, and in the case of excavations, what sort of research questions the investigation will aim to answer.
For excavations there are two stages and types of reporting. In the first instance, an assessment report is produced, which summarises the findings of the excavation, and, as its name suggest, assesses the importance of it and the amount of work required to take the project to the next stage , publication. It also proposes new research questions for the publication to address.
The compilation of the written narrative of the site, the assessment report, is a team effort. One person, usually the site supervisor, writes up the stratigraphic sequence using all of the records made on site. Feeding into this process will be the various experts, or specialists. These are people who undertake the analysis of such things as pottery, animal bones, bricks and tiles, or coins. Once the author is confident that he or she understands the sequence he or she will liaise with the specialists to refine it, using a variety of dating methods, such as the pottery or coins.
Once this is done the main author will organise the sequence on a chart, known as a matrix, which will show all of the features of the same date at the same level and illustrate the relationships between features; the main text of the report will be finalised at this point, with phase plans and other illustrations produced by the graphics specialists. Included in the assessment report is a programme of work for the production of the publication, including specific topics which need to be investigated in more depth.
All of the documents and reports listed above are often grouped together under the term ‘grey’ literature. As they are essentially planning documents, done for a client to satisfy a planning condition for a particular site, they are not usually very widely available. The relevant local studies library holds a copy, and the University of York’s partner organisation ADS maintains an online archive of many of these documents.
For excavations there are two stages and types of reporting. In the first instance, an assessment report is produced, which summarises the findings of the excavation, and, as its name suggest, assesses the importance of it and the amount of work required to take the project to the next stage , publication. It also proposes new research questions for the publication to address.
The compilation of the written narrative of the site, the assessment report, is a team effort. One person, usually the site supervisor, writes up the stratigraphic sequence using all of the records made on site. Feeding into this process will be the various experts, or specialists. These are people who undertake the analysis of such things as pottery, animal bones, bricks and tiles, or coins. Once the author is confident that he or she understands the sequence he or she will liaise with the specialists to refine it, using a variety of dating methods, such as the pottery or coins.
Once this is done the main author will organise the sequence on a chart, known as a matrix, which will show all of the features of the same date at the same level and illustrate the relationships between features; the main text of the report will be finalised at this point, with phase plans and other illustrations produced by the graphics specialists. Included in the assessment report is a programme of work for the production of the publication, including specific topics which need to be investigated in more depth.
All of the documents and reports listed above are often grouped together under the term ‘grey’ literature. As they are essentially planning documents, done for a client to satisfy a planning condition for a particular site, they are not usually very widely available. The relevant local studies library holds a copy, and the University of York’s partner organisation ADS maintains an online archive of many of these documents.