La normativa española (Reglamento de Actividades Arqueológicas), establece seis tipos de actividades en yacimientos arqueológicos, que necesitan autorización.

archaeological excavation

It can be both terrestrial and underwater, understood as the removal of soil and the analysis of structures carried out with scientific methodology, aimed at discovering and investigating all types of historical or paleontological remains, as well as the geomorphological components related to them.

Archaeological survey

It is the superficial and systematic exploitation carried out with scientific methodology, both terrestrial and underwater, aimed at the study, investigation or detection of archaeological or paleontological remains.

It began to be practiced in the 1930s as a tool for learning about the national heritage. It is less slow and expensive and allows you to collect a lot of information with little effort and money. In Spain it begins between 1930-1940 to learn about the heritage of each province. Blas Taracena makes the first archaeological map in Soria, later they will be made in Barcelona, ​​Valladolid, etc.

Something similar happens in Europe, as research was developed in the 60s already in a systematic way. Territories were toured in an organized manner, studying maps and carrying out surveys. Beginning in the 1980s, methods were perfected and prospecting was no longer carried out freely, apart from being planned.

Interventions in rock art

It includes the reproduction and direct study of rock art, understood as the set of field work aimed at research, graphic documentation or, exceptionally, any type of manipulation or contact with the support of figurative motifs.

Other activities

In addition to the above, the following activities must also be authorized when carried out at archaeological sites:

• - archaeological consolidation, restoration work "Restoration (art)") and restitution.

• - archaeological actions of enclosure, fencing and covering.

• - study and graphic documentation of the sites, as well as the materials deposited in museums.

State regulations

Law 16/1985 of June 25, on Spanish Historical Heritage, establishes the protection as Historical Heritage "Historical Heritage (Spain)") of archaeological sites, under the legal figure of BIC (Asset of Cultural Interest "Asset of Cultural Interest (Spain)"), with the category of Archaeological Zone.

Article 15.5 defines it as: place or natural area where there are movable or immovable property that can be studied with archaeological methodology, whether or not they have been extracted, and whether they are found on the surface, in the subsoil or under Spanish territorial waters.

Any work or removal of land planned in these Archaeological Zones must be authorized by the competent Administration.

Likewise, any archaeological activity, whether extractive or not, must be authorized by the competent administration. Carrying out prospecting or excavation without authorization is classified as a serious administrative infraction, and can become a criminal crime, if it entails plunder.

Regional regulations

The powers over authorization and control, both over archaeological actions and over works carried out at archaeological sites, are decentralized to the autonomous communities.

Archaeological sites, their protection and the activities carried out in them, are regulated by Law 14/2007, of November 26, on the Historical Heritage of Andalusia and by the Regulation of Archaeological Activities (Decree 168/2003).

These regulations also speak of Archaeological Zones, which they simply define as those clearly delimited spaces in which the existence of archaeological remains of relevant interest has been proven.

It also regulates Archaeological Easement Zones, such as those spaces in which the existence of archaeological remains of interest is reasonably presumed and it is considered necessary to adopt precautionary measures.

• - List of archaeological sites.

• - Archaeological sites of the Mayan culture.

• - Paleontological site.

Archaeological sites are classified according to certain criteria:

• - Chronological: according to the major cultural stages with phases and periods: Paleolithic, Neolithic, Mesolithic... Also in relation to cultures: Sumer, Akkadian, Egypt, Greece, Mesoamerica, etc.

• - Functional: Habitat and necropolis are distinguished. In the habitat community activities such as eating and socializing are carried out. At first they barely leave traces (bones, tools, ash), but with evolution it becomes more complex (tents with branches). With urbanization the level of complexity is enormous and diversifies: urban, rural, concentrated and diverse. The necropolis: they worshiped the deceased, at first they are simple graves that become more complex; There are cremation or inhumation burials, collective or individual.

• - Typological:") according to its topographic situation: outdoors, in a cave, valley...

• - Duration: temporary, seasonal, fixed or not.

La normativa española (Reglamento de Actividades Arqueológicas), establece seis tipos de actividades en yacimientos arqueológicos, que necesitan autorización.

archaeological excavation

It can be both terrestrial and underwater, understood as the removal of soil and the analysis of structures carried out with scientific methodology, aimed at discovering and investigating all types of historical or paleontological remains, as well as the geomorphological components related to them.

Archaeological survey

It is the superficial and systematic exploitation carried out with scientific methodology, both terrestrial and underwater, aimed at the study, investigation or detection of archaeological or paleontological remains.

It began to be practiced in the 1930s as a tool for learning about the national heritage. It is less slow and expensive and allows you to collect a lot of information with little effort and money. In Spain it begins between 1930-1940 to learn about the heritage of each province. Blas Taracena makes the first archaeological map in Soria, later they will be made in Barcelona, ​​Valladolid, etc.

Something similar happens in Europe, as research was developed in the 60s already in a systematic way. Territories were toured in an organized manner, studying maps and carrying out surveys. Beginning in the 1980s, methods were perfected and prospecting was no longer carried out freely, apart from being planned.

Interventions in rock art

It includes the reproduction and direct study of rock art, understood as the set of field work aimed at research, graphic documentation or, exceptionally, any type of manipulation or contact with the support of figurative motifs.

Other activities

In addition to the above, the following activities must also be authorized when carried out at archaeological sites:

• - archaeological consolidation, restoration work "Restoration (art)") and restitution.

• - archaeological actions of enclosure, fencing and covering.

• - study and graphic documentation of the sites, as well as the materials deposited in museums.

State regulations

Law 16/1985 of June 25, on Spanish Historical Heritage, establishes the protection as Historical Heritage "Historical Heritage (Spain)") of archaeological sites, under the legal figure of BIC (Asset of Cultural Interest "Asset of Cultural Interest (Spain)"), with the category of Archaeological Zone.

Article 15.5 defines it as: place or natural area where there are movable or immovable property that can be studied with archaeological methodology, whether or not they have been extracted, and whether they are found on the surface, in the subsoil or under Spanish territorial waters.

Any work or removal of land planned in these Archaeological Zones must be authorized by the competent Administration.

Likewise, any archaeological activity, whether extractive or not, must be authorized by the competent administration. Carrying out prospecting or excavation without authorization is classified as a serious administrative infraction, and can become a criminal crime, if it entails plunder.

Regional regulations

The powers over authorization and control, both over archaeological actions and over works carried out at archaeological sites, are decentralized to the autonomous communities.

Archaeological sites, their protection and the activities carried out in them, are regulated by Law 14/2007, of November 26, on the Historical Heritage of Andalusia and by the Regulation of Archaeological Activities (Decree 168/2003).

These regulations also speak of Archaeological Zones, which they simply define as those clearly delimited spaces in which the existence of archaeological remains of relevant interest has been proven.

It also regulates Archaeological Easement Zones, such as those spaces in which the existence of archaeological remains of interest is reasonably presumed and it is considered necessary to adopt precautionary measures.

• - List of archaeological sites.

• - Archaeological sites of the Mayan culture.

• - Paleontological site.