INTERPRETING HISTORY: HISTORICAL EVIDENCE &ARCHAEOLOGY

Historical Evidence Historians use both written and non- written sources to learn about the past. Historians use both written and non- written sources to learn about the past. Written sources include books, letters, diaries, writings on monuments-- anything with writing. Written sources include books, letters, diaries, writings on monuments-- anything with writing.

Non-written sources include fossils, artifacts, music and oral tradition. Non-written sources include fossils, artifacts, music and oral tradition. Historians must examine information and decide how to interpret it. Historians must examine information and decide how to interpret it.

The Evaluation of Sources Historians ask questions about a source to determine how accurate and useful it is. Historians ask questions about a source to determine how accurate and useful it is. Primary sources are materials created in the same time period as the events described. Primary sources are materials created in the same time period as the events described. Secondary sources are materials created later by people who studied the original or primary sources. Secondary sources are materials created later by people who studied the original or primary sources.

The Puzzle of History Each generation has historians who gather and interpret sources of information about the past. The interpretation varies from generation to generation. Each generation has historians who gather and interpret sources of information about the past. The interpretation varies from generation to generation. Historians work to understand not only what happened in the past, but also how and why it happened. Historians work to understand not only what happened in the past, but also how and why it happened.

Unlocking the Archaeological Record Archaeology is the recovery and study of artifacts, ruins, bones and fossils from the past. Archaeology is the recovery and study of artifacts, ruins, bones and fossils from the past. By studying the archaeological record, archaeologists can learn many things about the past. By studying the archaeological record, archaeologists can learn many things about the past.

Archaeologists slowly remove earth at a site and carefully record the exact location of everything they find. Archaeologists slowly remove earth at a site and carefully record the exact location of everything they find.

Dating the Information Archaeologists use two methods to determine the age of an artifact, cultural dating and scientific dating. Archaeologists use two methods to determine the age of an artifact, cultural dating and scientific dating. Cultural dating compares the objects found at a site with objects whose dates and information are already known. Cultural dating compares the objects found at a site with objects whose dates and information are already known.

Scientific dating techniques bring small samples of the objects found at a site into a laboratory for detailed analysis. Scientific dating techniques bring small samples of the objects found at a site into a laboratory for detailed analysis.

Interpreting the Evidence Archaeologists must interpret the evidence they collect just as historians do. Archaeologists must interpret the evidence they collect just as historians do. Different archaeologists come to different conclusions about the materials they examine. Different archaeologists come to different conclusions about the materials they examine.

Classic Excavation The purpose of classic archaeology was largely to find treasures. The purpose of classic archaeology was largely to find treasures. The excavation of Tutankhamen’s tomb is an example of classic archaeology. The excavation of Tutankhamen’s tomb is an example of classic archaeology.

The New Archaeology Today, the purpose of archaeology is to understand the lives of all people. Today, the purpose of archaeology is to understand the lives of all people. To study the lives of people, archaeologists study all the objects left behind, including rubbish. To study the lives of people, archaeologists study all the objects left behind, including rubbish.

Archaeologists also work with other specialists to learn more about the climate, soil, plants, animals, and age of the area they are studying. Archaeologists also work with other specialists to learn more about the climate, soil, plants, animals, and age of the area they are studying.

Evidence of Cultural Contact Clues about contact between ancient cultures are found in the archaeological record. Clues about contact between ancient cultures are found in the archaeological record. Whenever different cultures come in contact, they exchange goods and ideas. This is known as cultural diffusion. Whenever different cultures come in contact, they exchange goods and ideas. This is known as cultural diffusion.