Conservation and Archaeology in Great Britain and the United States: A Comparison

Abstract

Archaeological conservation has received little support or recognition from some archaeologists in the United States. This paper examines the relationship between archaeology and conservation by looking at the historical development of both fields in Great Britain and the United States. British prehistoric archaeology and American classical archaeology have generally supported conservation, while American anthropological archaeology has had little contact with or interest in the conservation field. Understanding the history and theoretical perspective of each of these fields of archaeology could help in developing better professional interaction between archaeology and conservation.