Archaeological survey can mean either listing known sites, checking their condition and carrying out small-scale field research, or looking for new, previously unknown sites. The importance of archaeological surveys as a source of new information has increased significantly in recent years. Survey methodology has also diversified. It can be said that in the past few decades, survey has become a fieldwork method on a par with excavation.
The main objective of archaeological survey is to reconstruct the settlement continuity of a particular area based on the number of sites and finds dating to different periods. These sites and finds are studied to estimate the settlement density and concentration, site characteristics, and means of subsistence used. In addition to traditional archaeological methods, important tools include various analyses based on the natural sciences and the careful mapping of discovered structures. In many cases, survey results are worked into models, for which explanations are sought from changes in natural conditions and cultural factors. The aim is to present the models in proportion to the local special conditions as well as possible.