Man's curiosity about his history has led him to dig in order to find and to record evidence that is building up into a fascinating and continually modified picture of the past. "Understanding Archaeological Excavation" examines the aims and methods of excavation. Man has dug into archaeological sites since medieval times, but the science (or art) of excavation is barely a hundred years old. By considering the methods and techniques of research developed since General Pitt Rivers' time, and by explaining how the information is recorded and interpreted, Philip Barker presents a detailed examination of archaeological excavation and its importance, including a section on the contrasts and similarities between rescue excavation, where a site is under imminent threat of destruction, and research excavation, where more time is available. The use of sequential illustrations, many of which are previously unpublished, helps to desribe the way in which sites are formed. This book is aimed at both the student and the amateur.