Strip map and sample is a method of

archaeological excavation In archaeology, excavation is the exposure, processing and recording of archaeological remains. An excavation site or "dig" is the area being studied. These locations range from one to several areas at a time during a project and can be condu ...

applied in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...

to preserve archaeological remains by record in the face of development threat. It involves machine stripping of an area, plotting observed features onto a site plan and then partially excavating those features ( sampling). Strip map and sample is undertaken when a site is to be destroyed by development and no satisfactory method of preserving archaeological remains ''in situ'' can be devised or adequate funding and time has not been factored into development project planning to allow for a full archaeological investigation.

See also