Archaeological Resource Management
An International Perspective

Archaeological Resource Management provides an international comparison of the main practices involved in managing archaeological remains.

John Carman (Author)

9780521841689, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 9 September 2015

252 pages, 18 tables
23.5 x 15.9 x 2.1 cm, 0.54 kg

'This is a most useful and comprehensive overview of what constitutes the field of archaeological heritage in its totality, and as such it is unparalleled. As most archaeologists today are being employed within the heritage field, a book of this kind will appeal to a wide audience.' Kristian Kristiansen, University of Gothenburg

Archaeological resource management (ARM) is the practice of recording, evaluating, preserving for future research and presenting to the public the material remains of the past. Almost all countries uphold a set of principles and laws for the preservation and professional management of archaeological remains. This book offers a critical and comparative perspective on the law and professional practices of managing archaeological remains. Beginning with a global history of ARM, John Carman provides an overview of legal and professional regulations governing ARM today. He then turns to consider the main practices involved in managing archaeological remains, namely, their identification and recording, their evaluation for 'significance', their preservation and their presentation to the public. As a whole, the book offers an overview of what ARM 'does' in the world, with implications for understanding the role of archaeology as a contemporary set of practices that determine how future generations will access material remains of the past.

Part I. History and Principles: 1. Historical antecedents to archaeological resource management
2. The development of current structures
3. Systems of regulation
Part II. Practices: 4. Inventory
5. Evaluation
6. Preservation
7. Presentation
Part III. Conclusions: 8. Archaeology in the world.

Subject Areas: Archaeological science, methodology & techniques [HDW], Archaeological theory [HDA]