sitesruins

Sitesruins is a term used in archaeology and cultural heritage to describe the physical remains of past human occupation at a site, including architectural fragments, foundations, landscape modifications, and artefacts that survive after abandonment. The expression is not standardized and may be used differently by researchers, but it generally covers both standing remnants and subsurface traces that reveal the character of former communities.

Ranging from prehistoric villages to industrial towns, sitesruins encompass architectural ruins (walls, columns, vaults), street layouts, funerary structures, and industrial or defensive works, as well as buried features such as floors, pits, and drainage systems. The study of sitesruins integrates field survey, mapping, and recording of artefact associations, with techniques such as photogrammetry, LiDAR, and 3D modeling to document condition and layout. Dating relies on typology, stratigraphy, radiocarbon, dendrochronology, and accompanying artefact analysis.

Interpretation of sitesruins centers on reconstructing past lifeways, settlement patterns, production, and social organization, while acknowledging preservation state and later alterations. They also illuminate changes in landscape use, trade networks, and responses to environmental pressures. Preservation challenges include weathering, vegetation overgrowth, looting, urban development, and climate change, all framed by ethical considerations and legal protections. Best practices emphasize minimal intervention, community engagement, and robust documentation before any stabilization.

See also: ruins, archaeology, cultural heritage, site surveying.