Rescue archaeology
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Rescue archaeology, sometimes called commercial archaeology, preventive archaeology, salvage archaeology, contract archaeology, developer-funded archaeology[1] or compliance archaeology, is state-sanctioned, archaeological survey[citation needed] and excavation carried out as part of the planning process in advance of construction or other land development.[2] In Western Europe excavation is the final stage in a sequence of activities that starts with desk-based assessments of the archaeological potential through exploratory fieldwork - monument surveys, testpitting, shovelpitting, evaluations and so forth. Other less common causes for salvage digs can be looting and illegal construction.[2] One effect of rescue archaeology is that it diverts resources and impacts pre-planned archaeological work.[2]
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Conditions leading to rescue archaeology could include, but are not limited to, highway projects, major construction, the flood plain of a proposed dam, or even before the onset of war. Unlike traditional survey and excavation, rescue archaeology must be undertaken at speed. Rescue archaeology is included in the broader categories that are cultural resource management (CRM) and cultural heritage management (CHM).