Industrial archaeology studies sites related to past industrial activities, including manufacturing, extraction, transportation, and infrastructure. Some key types of sites include:
- Factories and Mills – Textile mills, steelworks, foundries, and other manufacturing plants.
- Mines and Quarries – Coal mines, iron ore mines, stone quarries, and associated processing facilities.
- Transportation Infrastructure – Railways, canals, roads, bridges, tunnels, and docks.
- Power Generation Sites – Watermills, windmills, hydroelectric dams, steam power stations, and early electrical power plants.
- Worker Housing and Industrial Settlements – Company towns, worker cottages, and planned industrial communities.
- Storage and Distribution Sites – Warehouses, grain silos, and port facilities.
- Communication Infrastructure – Telegraph stations, early telephone exchanges, and broadcasting stations.
- Chemical and Processing Plants – Oil refineries, salt works, glassworks, and breweries.
- Military-Industrial Complexes – Arms factories, shipyards, and airfields used for industrial production.
These sites help researchers understand technological advancements, labor history, and the impact of industry on society and the environment.