Archaeology and Development in Auroville. Proposal for a Functional Policy

The document proposes a functional policy to harmonize town development with archaeological preservation. It first discusses contemporary archaeology’s focus on reconstructing ancient societies and the need for preventive measures due to urban expansion. In Auroville, archaeological discoveries, including Iron Age graves and medieval artifacts, highlight the need for a preventive archaeology policy. The proposal suggests creating an Archaeological Potential Map based on existing data and implementing methodologies like trial trenching and watching briefs to assess and mitigate archaeological risks during development.