Page 280 - Manual for Activities directed at the Underwater Cultural Heritage

© UNESCO. Augustus Henry Lane Fox Pitt-Rivers, after 1880. The format of excavation reports dates back to the 19th century based on Pitt-Rivers’ Cranborne Chase model.This generally comprises summary /abstract, introduction background, description of features, structures and stratigraphy, discussion, catalogues/specialist reports/appendices. In addition, the volumes on the Cranborne Chase excavation contain
useful relic tables summarising context details including features, stratigraphy and finds.
Now, in the 21st century excavation reports contain more data with more specialist reports, but follow the same basic format.
and institutions who have provided assistance in the fieldwork, analysis, report writing and other stages of the project. Many people will have worked hard to bring the project to completion and this public acknowledgement may often be the only reward they receive.
Table of Contents
The progressive numbering system and hierarchy of the report’s layout should be incorporated into a Table of Contents. Considering that the accessibility of reports is greatly enhanced by putting them in digital collections or on the internet, it is wise to consider whether a digital link between titles and text would be practical. Such links can then be included from the very start. They are also an advantage if several persons work on the report simultaneously, which nowadays has become the rule, rather than the exception.
Abstract / Executive Summary
A short paragraph summarising the main contents of the report should be drafted if the report is longer than 10 pages. It should include a short statement of the goals of the project, the methods used, results obtained, conclusions reached and any recommendations made. The abstract should be concise, informative and independent from the report. It is advisable to draft this section after having written the report.
Introduction
The introduction should give the context and scope of the report and should include the terms of reference of the project that is reported on. It should include:
• Description of the site, including
- location and environment,
- contextual background,
- historical background, and
- its formal delimitation, as well as an indication of the surrounding space in- cluded in analysis.
• Description of the objectives of the project, including
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Reporting