Association in archaeology refers to a close relationship between two or more objects. Associated objects that can be proved to have been deposited at the same time, through being in the same context, form a genuine or close association. Objects that can only be theorised as being deposited together, either because they were not excavated properly, their excavation records are lost or because they come from similar but different contexts, are said to be in open association.

Finds in association are much more useful than individual ones as greater precision can be assigned to their function, date and provenance.