What is Archaeology?

Fossils/Artifacts An archaeologist is someone who tries to figure out what life was like in the ancient past by looking at the remains of ancient people – their fossils and their artifacts. An archaeologist must know the difference between an artifact and a fossil. Fossils are remains of living things (plants, animals, people), not of things that were made. Artifacts are remains of things that were made, not the remains of living things.

What is a site? A "site" is a place archaeologists wish to explore. At the site, archaeologists literally dig, looking for the remains of ancient civilizations. That is why they call the site at which they are working a “dig”.

Finding a site How do archaeologists find sites to explore? They think about what people need to stay alive. Some of those things include access to clean drinking water, a protected place to live, and easy access to trade routes. With this in mind, archaeologists look for remains of civilizations along the banks of rivers and streams.

Finding a site 2. They check out reports of artifacts that have been discovered. Artifacts have been discovered by farmers and construction companies while working at their jobs. 3. They check the land from the air, looking for large depressions that could be the ruins of an ancient living area. 4. They use scientific instruments like radar and sonar to look for ruins.

Permission to Dig An archaeologist must receive permission to explore a site.  The owner of the land must grant sometimes permission. Sometimes the government of a country must issue permits.  Once permission is received, archaeologists work in teams with other archaeologists. A team begins to explore the area. They look for evidence that people once lived in the area. Evidence includes fossils and artifacts.

Grids & Labeling Before they begin digging, archaeologists design a grid on the ground using rope and string. Each square in the grid must be carefully searched. A record must be kept of anything found, including what was found next to it.

Tools of the Trade The tools they use are sometimes very simple. Tools include trowels, brushes, spoons, dental picks, sieves, saws, dustpans, and wheelbarrows. They search each grid very carefully. Digging at a site is slow and careful work.

Back in the Lab Once objects are labeled and removed from a site, they are taken to a lab, relabeled, and placed into a database. Archaeologists use this information to put together pieces of the past. It takes a great deal of education, training, patience, and attention to detail to work as an archaeologist.

What is it? The job of an archaeologist is a great deal like the job of a detective. Here are some puzzles for you to solve. While planting my garden, I found a three-foot long bone made out of stone. Did I find a fossil or an artifact? While exploring in the woods near my house, I found an old arrowhead. Did I find a fossil or an artifact? Answers: A fossil An artifact

CITY OF TROY • Explain that students are going to learn about a very old city called Troy which existed over 4000 years ago. • Show that Troy is located in Turkey. Click ‘Out’ on this map to show where Turkey is in relation to other countries: http://iguide.travel/Troy_(Turkey)#/Map • Show students a picture of what the ancient city of Troy might have looked like e.g. http://www.historywiz.com/troy.htm • Illustrate further by showing a picture of the nine layers of Troy at: http://cascoly.com/showjpg1.asp?jpg=..\2002\020520- 357.jpg • Pictures of the Trojan Horse will be appear in the Google search. Could finish with the story at: http://greece.mrdonn.org/trojanwar.html Digging through the layers

early humans evolved from earlier, ape-like primates called hominids. early humans descended from hominids who learned to walk upright, use fire and make tools modern human beings belong to the Homo sapiens branch of the hominid family early humans lived in Africa before migrating to other parts of the world. favourable climate conditions enabled early humans to travel up to North Africa, and proceed overland to other continents.

• Archaeologists: study the past through material remains to determine the life and culture of ancient peoples. • Anthropologists: The holistic scientific and social study of humanity through the natural sciences, the humanities, and the social sciences

EARLY HUMANS http://jaydambrosio.tripod.com/earlyhumans.html How did early humans develop from ape-like creatures to form the first civilisations? early humans were nomadic hunters-gatherers. They had to travel and migrate, in search of new game and foods early humans lived in Africa before migrating to the Middle East, Asia and eventually Europe ancient technology which helped early humans to survive, such as stone tools used for hunting and building shelters the first agricultural revolution that enabled humans to successfully farm and raise livestock. They no longer had to be nomadic hunter-gatherers. with successful food production, people in societies, cities and civilisations directed more time and energy towards to art, religion, language and architecture.

Learn More For the answers to these questions, click on these links. LEARN MORE about Archaeology DRESS UP YOUR HOMEWORK with free art created by a professional artist

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