Archaeology Mid-Term

Sub-surface Survey

A survey technique used to detect and record archaeological evidence beneath the surface by ground-based remote sensing methods. Primarily used to identify features within a site. Non-invasive - magnetometer, resistivity detector, ground-penetrating radar Invasive - augering, coring, shovel testing (STPs) especially useful in eastern North America where many sites are not visible on the surface

Surface Survey

A survey technique using direct observation to discover and gather archaeological data present on the ground. Collection and mapping of artifacts and features on surface. Used to identify sites and artifacts and features within a site. Used for "ground-proofing" of remote sensing.

What are the four major types of archaeology practiced today?

Academic Archaeology Applied Archaeology (Cultural Resource Management) Indigenous Archaeology Amateur Archaeology

What three pre-requisites were needed for archaeology to emerge as a discipline of study?

An appreciation of and interest in the past An understanding of deep time / antiquity An understanding that digging/excavation is a way to uncover the past

What is an archaeological survey?

Methods archaeologists use to acquire data from sites or regions without excavation, or with minimal disturbance.

What factors will effect how much of a site an archaeologist will excavate?

Nature of the site Research question Time and Money What will happen to the site when you are done

How do archaeologists record information about an excavation and why do they record so much?

Notes, notes, notes!!! Field Journal Forms - layer and feature records Drawings - profile and plan sketches Mapping Photographs Video Excavation a destructive activity, a non-replicable experiment.

What factors contributed to the acceptance of human antiquity?

Physical Evidence of Antiquity of Humans Theory Establishing Geological Time Theory of Evolutionary Change

What are association, matrix, and provenience?

Provenience (provenance)- Where is it? The three-dimensional location of archeological data within or on the matrix at the time of discovery. Association - What is it with? Occurrence of an item of archaeological data adjacent to another and in or on the same matrix. Matrix - In or on what was it found? The physical medium that surrounds, holds, or supports archaeological data.

What is the difference between absolute and relative dating, and what are some examples of each?

Relative - evaluating the age of one item of data relative to other items. Stratigraphy Sequence Comparison / Cross-Dating Seriation Geochronology Absolute/Chronometric - placing the age of a sample on an absolute time scale. Historic Records Dendrochronology Radiometric Radiocarbon (C14) Potassium Argon Archaeomagnetic Obsidian Hydration

What are three primary ethical responsibilities of an archaeologist?

Stewardship of archaeological record for all Consult with all groups affected by their work Avoid commercialization of archaeological objects Educate the public about archaeology Publish findings and make accessible Preserve and share collections and records Never undertake research without adequate training, experience and facilities

What is archaeology?

The study of humans through their material remains. The study of human history and culture.

How is archaeology related to anthropology?

They share a perspective that is... Evolutionary - change over time Global - all of the world's societies Comparative - similarities and differences culture focused - a people's way of life and holistic - relationship between different areas of culture.

Why do archaeologists excavate?

To address academic questions about culture and history To facilitate heritage management To manage cultural resources To mitigate the effects of development

What cultural/behavioral and transformational processes shape sites?

cultural/behavioral The human behaviors that modify objects and the environment in creating a site. transformational processes The human and natural processes that change those materials in a site over time

What is the geologic law of superposition?

states that the sequence of observable strata, from bottom to top, reflects the order of deposition, from earliest to latest.

What is a research design, and why do archaeologists use one?

A carefully formulated and systematic plan for conducting archaeological research. To ensure that.... the significance of the project is established. the information sought is clearly established. the work is conducted according to accepted scientific methods. the resources are used efficiently (financial, human, and archaeological). the research is done ethically. the research is made meaningful.

What is a site?

A specific spatial clustering of archaeological data. A place where physical evidence of a past human presence can be recovered. Any place where artifacts, ecofacts and/or features are found.

What are the different forms of archaeological data?

Artifacts Portable objects modified by humans Features Non-portable remains of human behavior Ecofacts Natural remains, unmodified by humans. human remains

What are the different categories of artifacts, features, ecofacts?

Artifacts - Ceramics, Lithics, Metals, Organic artifacts Features - Constructed, Cumulative Ecofacts - Floral remains, Faunal remains, Human Remains, Soils and Sediments

What are the sources for the analogies that archaeologists use to make interpretations about the past?

Ethnographic Record: The written record of the world's cultures provided by the intensive ethnographic study of cultural anthropologists as well as by historical accounts and documents. Ethnoarchaeology: Ethnographic studies designed to aid archaeological interpretation, such as descriptions of behavioral processes, especially the ways material items enter the archaeological record. Experimental Archaeology: Studies designed to aid archaeological interpretation by attempting to duplicate behavioral processes experimentally under carefully controlled conditions.

What are the stages of the archaeological research process, and what happens in each?

Formulation: Identifying the need for research and defining specific research goals. Implementation: Making arrangements for fieldwork Data Gathering: Collecting your archaeological data through surveys and excavation. Data Processing: organizing data Analysis: Making the data meaningful - turning data into information Interpretation: Giving the data meaning in order to reconstruct and understand the past. Publication: Sharing the data with others and curation.

How is the character Indiana Jones good and bad for archaeology?

Good in the sense that it makes people aware/interested in archaeology. Bad in the sense that it gives people the wrong idea of archaeologists.

Who was Heinrich Schliemann and what do we learn from his example?

He was a world traveler, rich merchant and lover of antiquity. "Great archaeologist". Origins of the stereotype of archaeologists Problems with "treasure hunting" How archaeology can be used to verify the written record Issues of ownership of archaeological materials Importance of conserving archaeological resources Importance of scientific methods to archaeological research

What is the most basic way archaeologists analyze artifacts? (What are artifact types and attributes?)

Identifying Attributes Creating Types Analyzing variations across space and time

What kinds of archaeological materials are more and less likely to preserve over time?

Inorganic Materials - preserves well Stone, ceramics, metals, plastics. Organic Materials - preserves more poorly Cloth, leather, wood, bone, plants, etc. Unique Preservation Conditions: Extremes: waterlogged, cold, dry, volcanic ash

What are stratigraphy, sequence comparison/cross-dating, seriation, radiocarbon (Carbon 14), and dendrochronology?

Stratigraphy: A basic relative dating technique sequence comparison/cross-dating: Placing artifacts within existing temporal sequences developed at other sites or locations, based on similarities seen with other artifacts within those sequences. seriation: A relative dating technique based on the ordering of artifacts in a series according to their similarity radiocarbon (Carbon 14): A radiometric technique based on measuring the decay of the radioactive isotope of carbon dendrochronology: The study of tree-ring growth patterns, which are linked to develop a continuous chronological sequence.

How is archaeology related to history?

Study the past Historical Archaeology Classical Archaeology Biblical Archaeology Used to create nationalist histories

What are the three different types of archaeological surveys used to locate or define sites? (Define and discuss)

Surface Survey Aerial Survey (Remote Sensing) Sub-surface Survey

Aerial Survey (Remote Sensing)

Survey techniques using remote imaging technologies to detect and record archaeological data present on or beneath the ground. Aerial photography, satellite imaging, infrared imaging, Google Earth, laser altimetry (Lidar), etc. Used to identify sites and very large features, particularly in remote areas. (roadways, canals, etc.)

What is context?

The characteristics of archaeological data that result from combined behavioral and transformational processes, which are evaluated by means of recorded association, matrix and provenience.

What are the reasons why archaeologists sample rather than excavate an entire site?

To conserve resources (time, money, labor, archaeological materials)

What are the goals of archaeology?

To describe the form of archaeological evidence and its distribution in time and space (What is it?) To determine the function of remains and reconstruct past behavior (How was it used?) To define the processes of culture to determine how and why cultures change (What was its place in a culture, and how did it change?) To understand the meaning of culture in the past and its relevance to the present. (What did/does it mean?)

What is a plan drawing?

a drawn record of features (and artifacts) in the horizontal plane.

What are analogies?

a form of reasoning whereby the identity of unknown things is inferred from those that are known. Two types - specific and general. Criteria for analogies: cultural continuity comparability in environment similarity of cultural form

What is a profile drawing?

a view in part of the archaeological sequence showing it in the vertical plane, as a cross section, and thereby illustrating its profile and stratigraphy. This may make it easier to view and interpret as it developed over time.