Page 93 - Manual for Activities directed at the Underwater Cultural Heritage

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but give no indication as to a date (other than that the site was previously unknown, and thus beyond memory), and if, as a consequence, a small project is proposed to establish the date of the deposit, then the Project Design should limit itself to discussing that fact. A full discussion of the region’s history would not be requisite. If, however, more is known about the site, and a larger project, including excavation, is proposed with the aim of settling a historical question, then that question and its context need wider coverage.
The production of archaeological understanding and knowledge is an iterative process. Decisions are taken one at a time. Each project or management decision should be informed by the previous work - work that is ‘preliminary’ in that respect.
Historical and archaeological
evidence
In instances where more evidence is available, background studies should be far more comprehensive. According to Rule 15, the assessment should include background studies of available historical and archaeo- logical evidence. The desk-based studies should thus integrate all the available archaeological evidence that has previously been gathered and refer to all historical evidence that is available.
Research into historical and ar- chaeological evidence is an essential component of an archaeological project as it can provide a wealth of historical context and moreover assist in establishing contact with other researchers working in the same field or related disciplines. There are different levels and intensities of research that can be undertaken depending on the
• Archaeology is an iterative process.
• Each study is preliminary to the next.
Preliminary work