Conclusion

Has, in fact, the term ‘industrial archaeology’ now outlived its usefulness? Should it instead be termed ‘later historical archaeology’ or ‘modern historical archaeology’, which defines the discipline as the study of material culture within a textual framework but also gives it a period definition? This would not be a popular solution, however, as Keith Falconer of English Heritage has said,

‘‘just as Britain is perceived to have pioneered the industrial revolution and have bequeathed industrialization to the world two centuries ago, so, in the last half century there is a similar perception that this country has pioneered and given the subject of industrial archaeology to the world.’’

Rather, we may have to continue to operate on two levels: the acceptance of a term such as ‘later historical archaeology’ for the academic study of the archaeology of industrialization, but a continuing popular recognition of ‘industrial archaeology’ as the study and conservation of the monuments of past industrial activity and generally synonymous with ‘industrial heritage’. In this sense, industrial archaeology has been extremely successful in achieving what its pioneers set out to do, achieve recognition for the importance of the remains of the industrial past and where possible their survival in the contemporary landscape. But in the second half of the twentieth century, industrial archaeology has developed from a purely amateur pastime, motivated by a desire to preserve the material remains of Britain’s industrial past, into a more mature scholarly discipline. New studies have contributed toward the development of social approaches to the discipline, while studies of industrial landscapes have explored ways in which these manifest not just the physical remains of industrial processes but also embody evidence for past hierarchical power relations. In these ways, industrial archaeology has broken free of its earlier constraints to become an archaeology of industrialization.

See also: Conservation, Archaeological; Historic Preservation Laws; Historical Archaeology: As a Discipline; World Heritage Sites, Types and Laws.