Post on 22-Mar-2016
description
ArchaeologySearching For Clues About the Past
Hmmmm….What is it that Archaeologists REALLY do?What comes to your mind when you think
about the work of archaeologists?What might students think?
The Reality…..Archaeology is hard work that encompasses
strenuous physical labor, following established procedures, keeping detailed records and conducting intense research
Archaeology:The study of people through the scientific
recovery, analysis, and interpretation of what they left behind
Science Humanities
ARCHAEOLOGY
Archaeologists collaborate with other experts….GeologistsAstronomersBotanistsZoologistsSoil SpecialistsPhysicistsChemistsGeneticistsEtc, etc…..
ArchaeologicalMethods
The Basics….Archaeology must be done in a careful,
organized, methodical mannerArchaeologists use the scientific method so that
their work can be compared with other studiesThe nature of excavation means that the site
will be irrevocably altered from its original stateArchaeological resources are limited and can
never be fully reconstructed after being excavated
The SiteThe area being investigated by archaeologists
Excavation UnitUnit: A predetermined and
carefully measured and mapped area within a site
This is where the digging happens
Typically, the unit is assigned acoordinate number and carefulrecords are taken during theexcavation
Tools of the Trade
Levels: Arbitrary vs. NaturalArbitrary: pre-determined levels
Natural: dividing levels by visible soil changes (stratigraphy)
Measuring arbitrary levels
FeatureProducts of human activity that are typically
fixed and non-portable within a siteExamples: trenches, post holes, foundations,
fire hearths, trash pits, roads, buildings Can be identified by soil color changes and patterns
ArtifactAny object that was made, used, or altered by
humans
ContextThe setting in which an artifact was found
Primary context: a setting where the artifact wasoriginally deposited
Secondary context: a place where an artifact has been moved (an example would be the Cara Merchant….the ship and its contents were moved and scattered by the ocean currents)
This is VERY important information to recordContext holds important clues for archaeologists
Documenting ContextIntact pot “in situ”
Trench
TrenchTrowel Pointing North
Possible trashpit
Archaeology isn’t JUST about digging…..Some estimate that for every hour of
excavations in the field, 8 hours must be spent in the lab
Examples of Lab ActivitiesCleaning, sorting, cataloguing, and analyzing
artifactsExamining artifacts and context in order to date
sitesMicroscopic analysisPiecing broken objects back together (or
attempting to!)Gathering data for reports