In archaeology, in situ refers to an artifact that has not been moved from its original place of deposition. In other words, it is stationary, meaning still.. An artifact being in situ is critical to the interpretation of that artifact and, consequently, of the culture which formed it.Once an artifact's 'find-site' has been recorded, the artifact can then be moved for conservation, further interpretation and display.he label in situ indicates only that the object has not been newly moved. Thus, an archaeological in situ find may be an object that was historically looted from another place, an item of booty of a past war, a traded item, or otherwise of foreign origin.