salvage archaeology

noun

1. the collection of archaeological data and materials from a site in danger of imminent destruction, as from new construction or flooding.

Word History and Origins

Origin of salvage archaeology¹

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

The field is facing dramatic funding cuts, while proposed legal changes on salvage archaeology will endanger priceless physical evidence.

From The Guardian

Thanks to an ongoing program of salvage archaeology in the Great Harbor, such remnants are now easier than ever to find.

From Literature

“We documented it as we would during a salvage archaeology project, and then it was gone,” she said.

From Slate

In recent years, Istanbul has been the scene of several stunning discoveries during salvage archaeology digs, most notably at the Yenikapi transit project, which unearthed a remarkable array of shipwrecks.

From New York Times