archaeology an introduction. what is archaeology? turn to the person sitting beside you and discuss...
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ARCHAEOLOGARCHAEOLOGYY
An IntroductionAn Introduction
What is archaeology?What is archaeology?
Turn to the person sitting beside Turn to the person sitting beside you and discuss what you believe you and discuss what you believe archaeology is.archaeology is.
Be prepared to share your ideas.Be prepared to share your ideas.
What is archaeology?What is archaeology?
Archaeology is the study of Archaeology is the study of remains of past human activity.remains of past human activity.
Archaeologists use these remains Archaeologists use these remains to reconstruct and interpret the to reconstruct and interpret the past.past.
Archaeology is a subdivision of Archaeology is a subdivision of anthropology, the study of anthropology, the study of humankind.humankind.
The Archaeological The Archaeological ProcessProcess
Background ResearchBackground Research FieldworkFieldwork Laboratory Work and AnalysisLaboratory Work and Analysis InterpretationInterpretation
The Archaeological The Archaeological Process – a Jigsaw Process – a Jigsaw
LessonLesson You will participate in two groups – a You will participate in two groups – a
home group and an expert group.home group and an expert group. In your expert group you will learn In your expert group you will learn
about one aspect of the archaeological about one aspect of the archaeological process – research, fieldwork, lab work process – research, fieldwork, lab work and analysis, or interpretation.and analysis, or interpretation.
You will bring your information back to You will bring your information back to your home group and share what you your home group and share what you have learned.have learned.
Dowden’s Ordinary Dowden’s Ordinary SiteSite
Dowden’s Ordinary Dowden’s Ordinary is a site located is a site located in Clarksburg, in Clarksburg, Maryland, in Maryland, in Montgomery Montgomery County. County.
Fieldwork -- Tools Fieldwork -- Tools Archaeologists UseArchaeologists UseDATA SHEETDATA SHEET
A data sheet is an A data sheet is an important tool. It important tool. It
captures what captures what has happened at has happened at the site, such as the site, such as
artifacts that artifacts that were found, and were found, and
observations.observations.
Fieldwork -- Tools Fieldwork -- Tools Archaeologists UseArchaeologists Use
The Munsell Soil The Munsell Soil Color ChartColor Chart provides a provides a
standard name standard name for soil colors so for soil colors so that soil at the that soil at the
site can be site can be compared with compared with soil from other soil from other
sites. sites.
Fieldwork -- Tools Fieldwork -- Tools Archaeologists UseArchaeologists UseAll artifacts All artifacts
collected from a collected from a unit are placed in unit are placed in their own bag and their own bag and carefully labeled carefully labeled
so that so that interpretation and interpretation and
analysis of the analysis of the site may be done site may be done
following following excavation. excavation.
Fieldwork -- Tools Fieldwork -- Tools Archaeologists UseArchaeologists Use
SCREENSCREEN
A screen is used to A screen is used to filter out small filter out small
rocks, clumps of rocks, clumps of soil, and other soil, and other natural objects.natural objects.
Fieldwork -- Tools Fieldwork -- Tools Archaeologists UseArchaeologists Use
All the soil that is All the soil that is excavated is excavated is
sifted through a sifted through a screen or 1/4 inch screen or 1/4 inch
mesh to be mesh to be certain that all certain that all the artifacts or the artifacts or
cultural material cultural material has been has been
recovered. recovered.
Fieldwork -- Tools Fieldwork -- Tools Archaeologists UseArchaeologists Use
The trowel is a tool The trowel is a tool used to carefully used to carefully
and evenly and evenly scrape across the scrape across the
surface of the surface of the excavation area excavation area so that artifacts so that artifacts are uncovered are uncovered
and soil changes and soil changes are easily noted. are easily noted.
Fieldwork – Excavating Fieldwork – Excavating Dowden’s Ordinary Dowden’s Ordinary
SiteSite
Fieldwork – Excavating Fieldwork – Excavating Dowden’s Ordinary Dowden’s Ordinary
SiteSite
Fieldwork – Recording Fieldwork – Recording Dowden’s Ordinary Dowden’s Ordinary SiteSite
Recording the Recording the position of the position of the
rocks unearthed rocks unearthed at the trash pit at the trash pit
unit.unit.
Laboratory Work and Laboratory Work and AnalysisAnalysis
Artifacts such as Artifacts such as this piece of this piece of
ceramic were ceramic were uncovered at the uncovered at the
site.site.