In situ
Archaeology

In archaeology, the term in situ has been used variably to describe artifacts or features discovered in a presumed original context, yet its precise definition remains contested. Scholars distinguish between a broad usage (denoting materials recovered through controlled excavation) and a stricter usage reserved for those found in undisturbed, primary depositional settings. Between these poles lies a continuum of depositional scenarios, from sealed habitation floors to slope or fluvial deposits, meaning that whether an object is truly in situ depends on site-specific formation processes and the degree to which stratigraphic as well as spatial relationships can be reconstructed. Recording the exact spatial coordinates, stratigraphic position, and surrounding matrix of depositional materials is necessary for understanding past human activities and historical processes. While artifacts are often removed for analysis, certain archaeological features—such as hearths, postholes, and architectural foundations —have to be thoroughly documented in place to preserve their contextual information during excavation.: 121 This documentation relies on various methods, including detailed field notes, scaled technical drawings, cartographic representation, and high-resolution photographic records. Current archaeological practice incorporates advanced digital technologies, including 3D laser scanning, photogrammetry, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), to capture complex spatial relationships. Artifacts found outside their original context or ex situ, often due to natural disturbances or unrecorded excavations, have less interpretive value. However, these displaced materials can still provide clues about the spatial distribution and typological characteristics of unexcavated in situ deposits, guiding future excavation efforts.
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