ABSTRACT

Cities are an important part of the archaeological record of the recent past. The analysis of the material record of modern cities presents particular challenges to archaeology, in part because of the potential volume of material involved and because of the nature of its stratigraphic context. Meeting these challenges will enable traditional archaeological approaches to be extended into the recent past, and will enable archaeology to make a significant contribution to understandings of that era. Archaeologists are uniquely placed to analyse landscape change and consumer behaviour, both of which accelerated considerably during this period. More fully documented deposits from the heart of the British Empire will be invaluable for understanding colonisation and trade at this time. The combination of documentary sources and material remains available for this period makes it an exciting and rewarding area of study, the full potential of which has yet to be explored.