Daniel MORDANT FIFTY YEARS OF ARCHAEOLOGY IN THE BASSÉE (1960-2010): from volunteer rescue archaeology to preventive standardisation

Abstract

This historiographical retrospective of archaeology in the gravel works of the Bassée is organised into three periods, experienced successively by the author: I- the volunteer work (1960-1990), II- the convention (1991-2001), III- the legislative standardisation (2001-2010…). An archaeology of human landscapes, based on a 100 % archaeological survey of areas before extraction, has been in place for about 50 years. New legislation put into place in 2003 marks the end of this methodology and immediately leads to a regression in the discovery of new sites and in the number of preventive excavations. These points are discussed within the general context of the development of preventive archaeology that making it possible to qualify this negative observation.

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