Abbatija tad-Dejr : an uncertain future : conservation of archaeological sites with special reference to the Abbatija tad-Dejr hypogea, Rabat, Malta

Abstract

"Archaeology is the study of the past using objects and other excavated evidence as the main source of data". It is the study of past peoples and their cultures through their buildings, tools, and other artifacts that constitute what is known as material culture. It involves a physical activity in the form of excavations carried out to retrieve material remains, and an intellectual challenge in an attempt to derive conclusions about past societies from these remains. Through the study of the relationship between artifacts and human behaviour, archaeologists make a large contribution towards the conception of change and development within past societies. In doing this, they offer valuable information to the understanding of modern societies.