Post-excavation processing

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Post-excavation processing

Photograph of a man in white gloves examining a number of pots on a table. To either side are long full height rows of shelves containing boxes.

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Research at the LAARC

An archaeologist's job doesn't end when the tools are put away. In fact it's hardly started! Work is not complete until the evidence has been analysed, the specialist reports are complete, the finds and records have been properly stored and the site report has been published. The work done after a dig is finished is essential for understanding and interpreting the evidence. It usually takes a lot longer too: a year-long excavation might take five years to analyse and publish.

Photograph of a long row of open boxes, all containing packed or bagged small finds. Behind is a longer run of full height shelves containing many more boxes of finds.

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Small finds in store at the LAARC

Who is involved?

There can be dozens of people involved in post-excavation work for a large dig in London. These include finds specialists, archaeological scientists, conservators, dating experts, editors and publishers, and museum staff.

The London Archaeological Archive & Research Centre (LAARC)

All the archives of excavations in London are stored at the LAARC. A site archive contains all the records from the site, including plans, context sheets, environmental samples and finds. The LAARC has over 120 000 boxes of material from nearly 5000 excavations, making it probably the biggest archaeological archive of any city in Europe. All this evidence is available for everyone to use in their own research into the archaeology of London.

	Find out about finds

	Find out about dating

	Find out about interpreting the evidence