Storie dalla terra. Manuale di scavo archeologico,
Torino: Giulio Einaudi Editore [3rd edition; 1st edition = 1991].
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This book, mostly for Italian readers, is considered as an introductive manual to archaeological stratigraphy and practices for beginners. After a forward and an introduction, the author presents a second (more focused) introduction on stratigraphy and excavation technique. The whole book is divided into 5 chapters.
Chapter I describes history and principles of archaeological stratigraphy (directly streaming from geology). Chapter II moves from stratification (i.e., the depositional phaenomenon in itself) to stratigraphy (i.e., the science which analyses stratifications), displaying two sub–sections on ‘excavation strategies and methodology’ (survey, excavation of different types: i.e., ‘experimental/scholarly excavation, emergency excavation and public excavation) and on ‘stratigraphic units [SUs]’.
Chapter III delaines the basic principles of archaeological documentation: form documentation (mostly focusing of Italian, ministerial forms), drawings and pictures and the use of computers [this topic is very important also for Urkesh’s methodology: see e.g. The Record].
Chapter IV deals with post–excavation activities, i.e. the publication and the diffusion of the results (reports, maps of periods and phases, drawings and plans, catalogues, etc.).
Chapter V focuses on ‘excavation as a practice’, describing the different figures on the field (field director, area supervisors, excavators, lab director, institutional representatives, and technicians, such as the topographer, the restorer and the scientists); a second sub–section describes the archaeological technique itself and a following sub–section defines the different types of SU; the last sub–section within this chapter talks about the post–excavation activities to be fulfil on the field (i.e., how to leave and cover the excavation area and how to storage the materials).
A last section further investigates the concept of ‘stratigraphy’ [cf. also CAR/themes/stratigraphy, by L. Recht, in progress], discussing the importance to distinguish between ‘ordinary phaenomena’ and ‘peculiar data’, stressing the basic stratigraphic concept of ‘digging backwords (in times)’ and underlining the ‘analysis of the hidden (lit. “submerged”) [= the archaeological remains, structures and objects, laying underground]’. A journey into the ground, to retrieve and recover many ‘stories (and histories) from the earth’.
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