Archaeological sites can only be excavated once; this has led to archaeology being described as ____________________.

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

To approach this question, consider how archaeologists handle sites and the implications of excavation on context and preservation.
Option 1: 'a speculative science' — While archaeology involves interpretation and hypotheses, labeling it speculative ignores the rigorous methods, dating techniques, and careful recording that underpin the discipline. It’s not primarily defined as speculative.
Option 2: 'a pseudo-science' — Pseudo-science implies a lack of empirical support or methodological rigor. Archaeology, by contrast, relies on stratigraphy, dating methods, and reproducible findings, so this label is inappropriate.
Option 3: 'a destructive science' — Excavation physically removes soil and artifacts, often destroying the original context in the process. Once a site is excavated, some information is irretrievably altered or lost, which aligns with the description of archaeology as a destructive science.
Option 4: 'none of these' — Given that the commonly cited description of archaeology as destructive stems from the irreversible impact of digging, this option would be inaccurate because one of the listed descriptors (option 3) correctly captures that idea.
Option 5: 'an improvisational science' — Archaeology is not characterized primarily as improvisational; it follows systematic methodologies and documented procedures, making this label misleading.

In summary, the idea that archaeology can be described as a destructive science rests on the notion that excavation alters or destroys the original context of sites, making some information irretrievable. The other options mischaracterize the discipline by either overstating uncertainty, denying methodological rigor, or mislabeling its foundational approach.

Archaeological sites can only be excavated once; this has led to archaeology being described as ____________________.

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