Introduction to archaeology

What is archaeology?

“Archaeology is the scientific study of physical evidence of past human societies recovered through excavation.”- www.loudon.gov

Why is it important?

Although objects from any time may be excavated, archaeologists and historians are most interested in finds from pre-history – why do you think so?

…because their finds are the ONLY evidence from which theories and understandings can be made.

Can you dig it?

The Survey

An archaeological dig often begins with a survey of the area.

Potentially interesting sites may be identified by:– Proximity to existing digs; Places of

interest include buildings, graves and middens.

– Aerial photography– Ground penetrating radar

Grids

It is crucial that the exact location of items are noted before they are removed from a dig. Objects are always labelled on a horizontal grid and often on a vertical grid as well so a 3D image can be created later.

Tools

Archaeologists dig with everything from a backhoe to a paintbrush.

Artifacts

Once artifacts are removed from a site, they are cleaned and studied intensively.

Researchers attempt to accurately date the objects, identify their use and make hypotheses about the culture that produced the artifacts.

Dating techniques

Carbon 14

Organic materials (i.e. anything that once lived) can be reliably dated through carbon 14 analysis.

Short version: While plants and animals live, they absorb carbon 14. When they die no more is absorbed and the C14 inside begins to decay.

t = [ ln (Nf/No) / (-0.693) ] x t1/2

Umm… yeah…Basically every 5700 years the C14

amount will be cut in half. So by measuring the C14 content in the artifact NOW we can figure out how long ago the plant or animal died and thus put a date on it.

StratigraphyEarly humans tended to prefer to live

near rivers or other water sourcesOver thousands of years many

different peoples might come and go from a prime riverside location.

Each group would leave artifacts behind

Stratigraphy = Layers

Over time, layers develop. Objects in the same layer are likely contemporaneous – from the same time period

Relative Dating

Uses surrounding objects to reasonably guess at dates.

• If the leather tobacco pouch has been C14 dated as 8000 years old, then the pipe next to it is probably ____________ years old.

Dendrochronology

• Count the rings in the wood to get the date.

• This method has the added benefit of giving a picture of the climate and changes in weather patterns.

The Amesbury Archer

An archaeology case study

In 2002 archaeologists working 5 km from Stonehenge discovered a grave 4300 years old. By the end of their rushed excavations, it would prove to contain the richest collection of items ever found from Bronze Age Britain

What the….?

Examine the following images of artifacts recovered from the Amesbury dig.

• Describe its appearance• Guess what its made of• What do you think it was used for?

USE OBSERVATIONS AND KNOWN FACTS TO MAKE ARGUMENTS ABOUT THE UNKNOWN

Inferencing

Congratulations! You are becoming quite talented at INFERENCING.

• Inferencing lies at the heart of archaeological research. It is how theories and understandings about pre-history are developed.

• INFERENCING = USING OBSERVATIONS AND KNOWN FACTS TO MAKE ARGUMENTS ABOUT THE UNKNOWN

Next, you’ll try your hand at some archaeological sleuthing….

The Archaeological Process Activity!1. Since several of these artifacts are authentic, please make sure that you

are very careful with them.

Enjoy being an archaeologist for a day!

2. In groups of 3, choose one leader that will handle the artifacts. Diligent record

keeping is VERY important to archaeology – carefully choose a sketch

artist. Also select a scribe