Searching 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

ScienceHumanities

Archaeologists collaborate with other experts…. Geologists Astronomers Botanists Zoologists Soil Specialists Physicists Chemists Geneticists Etc, etc…..

Archaeological Methods

The Basics…. Archaeology must be done in a careful, organized, methodical manner Archaeologists use the scientific method so that their work can be compared with other studies The nature of excavation means that the site will be irrevocably altered from its original state Archaeological resources are limited and can never be fully reconstructed after being excavated

The Site The area being investigated by archaeologists

Excavation Unit Unit: A predetermined and carefully measured and mapped area within a site This is where the digging happens Typically, the unit is assigned a coordinate number and careful records are taken during the excavation

Tools of the Trade

Levels: Arbitrary vs. Natural Arbitrary: pre-determined levels Natural: dividing levels by visible soil changes (stratigraphy) Measuring arbitrary levels

Feature Products of human activity that are typically fixed and non-portable within a site Examples: trenches, post holes, foundations, fire hearths, trash pits, roads, buildings Can be identified by soil color changes and patterns

Artifact Any object that was made, used, or altered by humans

Context The setting in which an artifact was found Primary context: a setting where the artifact was originally 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 record Context holds important clues for archaeologists

Documenting Context Intact pot “in situ” Trench Trowel Pointing North Possible trash pit

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 Activities Cleaning, sorting, cataloguing, and analyzing artifacts Examining artifacts and context in order to date sites Microscopic analysis Piecing broken objects back together (or attempting to!) Gathering data for reports