Why are private consulting firms involved in salvage archaeological excavations?
A) They are interested in obtaining the artifacts for their collections.
B) They are contracted and paid to assess and clear lands intended for highways or other development.
C) University-based archaeologists are only interested in large long-term projects.
D) University-based archaeologists are prohibited by law from undertaking this sort of work.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Private consulting firms are often contracted by developers or government agencies to assess and clear land intended for development that may contain archaeological sites. These firms specialize in salvage archaeology, which involves quickly and efficiently excavating sites before they are destroyed by development. They are paid for their services and the artifacts recovered during these excavations are usually turned over to the relevant authorities for curation and storage.

Why Are Private Consulting Firms Involved in Salvage Archaeological Excavations