Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (604 page)

Literally, the act of restoring something that already exists to a former position or state. In archaeology this typically means dismantling a structure or taking an artefact apart, cleaning the component parts, replacing or strengthening broken or weak elements, and then reassembling the whole in its original order or form. It is often a matter of degree as to whether an operation is really restoration or reconstruction, although the extremes are easy to see. The aim of restoration is mainly conservation through the protection and preservation of the remains.

 
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A ring of boulders or stone slabs set around the outer edge of a cairn or barrow to define its limits and serve to revet and support the edge of the mound or cairn.

 
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See
REVETMENT
.

 
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Latin term for the rear division of a fort or camp, lying behind the central range.

 
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In knapping flint, stone, or obsidian, the final edge-working carried out during the production of an implement. Whether on a core tool, flake, or blade, retouch usually comprises fine flaking and chipping to shape, blunt, or sharpen a particular edge. Several different styles are recognized, including invasive retouch which is achieved by working from the edge of the implement towards the centre. Also known as
SECONDARY WORKING
.

 
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The process of softening and rotting fibrous plant stems such as hemp and flax by soaking them in water or by exposing them to moisture until much of the non-vascular plant material has decayed. The stems can then be beaten to detach the fibres from the woody core. The facility used for retting, usually a hole in the ground capable of holding water, is known as a
retting pit
.

 
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