Fieldwork Guidelines for Archaeology Officers

The identities of nations and countries depend on the culture, history, beliefs, faith and religion of the people of those countries. Therefore, in order to express the identity and personality of human beings and countries, we must go to history and historians, culture and cultural figures, and knowledge and scholars of the relevant countries and people. Therefore, to understand and document the history and culture of the country in systematic way, these Guidelines for Archaeological Officers has been prepared so to undertake the archaeological activities according to international standards. This book will highlight the legal aspects of archaeological work in Afghanistan, archaeological survey, planning, budgeting, restoration, conservation, protection of the excavated areas, drafting reports, and documentation related issues. The author focused on the practical and systematic vision of archaeological activities as the recent development in agricultural work, urban development and illegal digging of the sites immensely destroyed the country rich archaeological heritage. In these pages Dr. Luca M. Olivieri shares with young archaeological officers his experience in survey, excavation, documentation, site protection, budgeting and legal frameworks. Based on some best practice examples, this book plans to offer pragmatic assistance to readers, thus encouraging them to focus on the various practical aspects of a scientific archaeological fieldwork. Dr. Anna Filigenzi, Dr. Massimo Vidale and Mrs. Livia Alberti contributed on very important aspects of the manual. Mr. Ahmadzia Nawrang, Mr. Salim Wak and Mr. Fidah Mohammad assisted in text correction and translation of Pashto and Dari languages. I sincerely appreciate the efforts of all my colleagues from AIA who assisted in composing, designing and compiling it in book form and I pray for more success. I hope that with the publication of this valuable and extraordinary book, a service has been made to the scientific and cultural community of the country. I am sure that the Archaeological officers, students, professors and researchers in the field of archeology in Afghanistan will definitely benefit from this book. Noor Agha Noori Director Archaeology Institute of Afghanistan (AIA) Kabul, December 2020