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

Trench

Trowel 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