Expectations on Swedish Rescue Archaeology: fertile circles, the courage not to know, and texts with meaning

Abstract

This paper discusses some general problems within Swedish rescue archaeology. In order to illustrate these problems, more or less recognizable negative states are contrasted with positive expectations. Vicious circles, prohibiting critical evaluation and discussion, are contrasted with ”fertile circles", promoting an intellectual and creative archaeology. The comfortable and stagnant search for "known" and easily categorized features and objects is contrasted with the courage to actively focus on problematic features and relations. Finally, archaeological reports that are anxiously occupied with numbers and descriptive "facts", while avoiding subjective reflexions and interpretations, are contrasted with reports communicating meaning, interpretations and evaluations.