Looking to the Future, Caring for the Past. Preventive Archaeology in Theory and Practice

Looking to the Future, Caring for the Past is a collection of papers presented at the 2013 and 2014 Summer Schools Preventive Archaeology: evaluating sites and landscapes coordinated within the Erasmus Intensive Programme by the Department of History and Cultures of the University of Bologna. Bringing together the experience of great experts and young researchers from different countries, the book paints an informed picture on Preventative Archaeology, focusing on the role of non-invasive techniques in evaluating the nature and potential of archaeological deposits prior to potentially damaging changes or development, and so properly informing the planning process and individual project designs. The topic at issue is being discussed carrying out a general survey of the current situation across Europe, comparing the differing conditions in terms of rules and regulations, methods and traditions, and analysing the possibilities and limitations of non-invasive methods for the needs of archaeological impact assessment. The volume also sought to identify the kinds of benefits that could be gained through the development and application of an approach based on multiple techniques and methodological integration, so as to define good practice both for research and for teaching within this field of studies.