现代考古学在19世纪中期起源于欧洲,它是在地质学的科学研究进步之后发展出来。地质学呈现,地球的年龄是数十亿年,而不是当时普遍认定的几千年。在此后不久,1859年查尔斯·达尔文出版《物种起源》一书,概述了他的进化论,最终导致科学家相信,人类事实上有数百万年的历史,从而提供一个时间限度,可在其中蓬勃发展考古研究。同时,在1836年丹麦历史学家克里斯蒂安·于恩森·汤姆森出版《斯堪第那维亚古物指南》(A Ledetraad til Nordisk Oldkyndighed),于1848年翻译成英文,其中他提议将欧洲史前史区分为三年代系统,即石器时代、青铜时代和铁器时代,这是依据人类使用的材料。这三个概念,包括人类古物、演化与三年代系统,往往被认为是现代考古学的基石。[10]
一场考古学调查往往包含几个清楚划分的阶段,每个阶段运用特有的研究方法。在任何的实际考古工作可以进行之前,考古学家必须先就所欲达成的清楚目标取得共识。做到这一点之后,进行对一处遗址的考古学田野调查(英语:Archaeological field survey),尽可能发现关于这个遗址及其周围区域的资讯。其次,展开发掘工作,以搜集埋藏在地下的任何考古特质;第三,研究从这场发掘中所搜集的资料,并评估是否达成考古学家原先设定的研究目标。然后将这些资讯出版,以便由其他考古学家与历史学家取得使用,学者认定这是一个好作为,即使有时被忽略。[32]
历史考古学研究已有某种文字的文化。例如,在英国,考古学家发掘了一些中世纪村落遗址,它们在14世纪的危机之后就遭到弃置,并发现17世纪的花坛园圃的布局,后来由于流行风格的改变,人们不再使用这种布局。在美国纽约市城区,考古学家发掘了18世纪非洲裔的墓园,现在成为非洲人墓地国家纪念碑(英语:African Burial Ground National Monument)。
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