La prospection archéologique en Grèce et dans le monde méditerranéen

Archaeological Surveys in Greece and the Mediterranean Area It is assumed, by many archaeologists and by virtually all non-archaeologists, that excavation is the only form of primary fieldwork open to the subject; indeed, for many laymen, excavation is archaeology. It is argued in this paper, first, that some of the unsatisfactory character of archaeological evidence, when applied to other studies, in fact arises from its dependence on excavation; and secondly, that there is an alternative technique available, in the form of archaeological survey, which can complement excavation and which is free of some of its faults. The paper seeks to make a case for intensive survey as the optimal method, and describes the main characteristics of this method. The difficult problems of sampling are also discussed. Finally, the paper enumerates some of the criticisms most often made of intensive survey, and attempts to answer some of them while conceding the validity of others.Snodgrass Anthony M. La prospection archéologique en Grèce et dans le monde méditerranéen. In: Annales. Économies, Sociétés, Civilisations. 37ᵉ année, N. 5-6, 1982. pp. 800-812