The
history of archaeology has been one of increasing
professionalisation, and the use of an increasing
range of techniques, to obtain as much data on
the site being examined as possible.
Excavations of ancient monuments and the collection
of antiquities have been taking place for thousands
of years, but these were mostly for the extraction
of valuable or aesthetically pleasing artefacts.
It was only in the 19th century that the systematic
study of the past through its physical remains
began to be carried out. Archaeological methods
were developed by both interested amateurs and
professionals, including Augustus Pitt Rivers
and William Flinders Petrie.
This process was continued in the 20th century
by such people as Mortimer Wheeler, whose highly
disciplined approach to excavation greatly improved
the quality of evidence that could be obtained.
During the 20th century, the development of urban
archaeology and then rescue
archaeology have been important factors,
as has the development of archaeological
science, which has greatly increased
the amount of data that it is possible to obtain.