Session: #555

Regular session

Large-scale (rescue) excavations are now a common occurrence in urban archaeology today. This is especially the case in North and Western Europe, where more early modern sites are being excavated. These sites often produce large amounts of finds which causes significant challenges but at the same time offers considerable research potential. Additionally, modern contextual excavation methods together with constantly developing documentation methods, produce a growing amount of information. How to approach these large projects from a find´s perspective?

The focus of this session is on finds related to large entities and structures in urban contexts (e.g. moats, quay sites, ramparts, whole plots or even quarters, and industrial plants). Our aim is to discuss collection strategies, recording and documentation strategies. What is the potential of (so called) bulk finds? What kinds of special finds strategies are needed? We would also like to gather experiences of systematical metal detecting while excavating these sites. Should we develop on-site sorting and recording or settle for finds analyses during post-excavation? What is the need of on-site conservation? We also welcome discussions of the importance of finds when making interpretations, especially in situations where the excavated areas are filled with redeposited material, such as moats and harbourside land reclamations. What can we obtain from the results, and what will be missing? The focus is especially on the early modern era but papers based on medieval, especially late medieval sites are welcome too.

large-scale urban sites, find’s strategies, method development, finds assemblages, historical archaeology, urban archaeology

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Georg Haggren (Finland) ¹

Hanna Dahlström (Denmark) ²
Tom Wennberg (Sweden) ³
Veronica Forsblom Ljungdahl (Sweden) ⁴