Why do we dig?

An archaeological dig is the most important process in order to obtain special information and data from the fragmentary, material legacies of history which serve to reconstruct prehistoric and early historic life forms and societies.

Where do we dig?

The largest part of the excavations in Lower Austria occurs from a so-called emergency situation. Building projects, extensive farming and the erosion of the ground therefore connected with it increasingly jeopardize archaeological places of discovery. Excavations must therefore save whatever is left to save from complete destruction. In addition, scientifically motivated digs are also carried out.

For  what are we digging?

Despite the widely spread opinion to the contrary, we are not searching for "treasures", although we would, of course, be very happy about such special finds. "Sensation" is not at the forefront, but rather the everyday life of the average person, his diet and clothing, his customs, his tools and articles of daily use, his houses and graves. We simply want to create pictures of everyday life although we know how thin the ice is on which we are walking. Archaeological culture alone is often only fragmentarily obtained and therefore cannot cover all the areas of life; in many cases the spiritual beliefs and rites and rituals connected with them have to remain buried forever.