Problemy archeologicznych badań ratowniczych na terenach wielkiej inwestycji

The article presents the most important methodical problems involved in archaeological rescue studies carried out within a short time on large sites grouping numerous posts. Because o f its spatial scope, the research work is very close to studies o f a settlement character. In view o f a necessity to reduce study aims as well as to simplify a detailed method, this fact determines a mode of modifying a programme o f studies. The programme envisages three stages o f work : — a) surface reconaissance investigations aimed at displaying all posts and compiling information necessary to reconstruct a settlement network at different chronological levels, b) sounding examinations linked with some methods o f preliminary cataloguing at selected posts, c) excavation investigations at posts constituting a subject of final selection. A selection o f posts between individual stages o f studies is made on the basis o f the following criterions o f endangering: central posts (the criterion applies to selected settlement complexes), main problem (the criterion applies to chronological levels), unusualness, a degree o f devastation, multi-culture and a criterion of representative selection modifying a final pool in accordance with the actual structure o f a settlement network, through a selection o f some posts put earlier aside from further studies because o f the remaining selective criterions. Recommendations on excavation research works can be summed up as follows: a) large, multi-ared spatial excavations should be promoted, b) excavations should be carried out on sites of the concentration o f central phenomena at such a stage o f post’s settling to which a criterion o f central posts or o f the main problem could be applied in favour o f undertaking excavations studies. Central phenomena o f other stages o f settling as well as boundary phenomena should, if possible, be included when locating the excavation, c) after removing a top layer (as a rule, by means o f big mechanical equipment), uncovering and cleaning a ground’s roof, all revealed objects should stay under examination until establishing their function and chronology, d) objects with the same function, referring to a single stage o f settlement form types within which it is possible to employ a far- going selection. A further examination o f selected objects is carried out until finding out their construction and a mode o f use, e) certain conclusions drawn from systematic investigations within the excavation site may be generalized to cover a broader area o f the post following a secondary interpretation of the findings o f cataloguing investigations.