Archaeologists

Question 0

What is a source

Answer 0

Evidence, for example a document and pictures used by historians to find out what happened in the past

Question 1

Explain archaeology

Answer 1

The study of the remains left by our ancestors

Question 2

What is history

Answer 2

The historic period is when writing was used. For example we know, about the monks in early Christian ireland because they wrote manuscripts

Question 3

What is pre history

Answer 3

The period in the past before writing was used. For example the Bronze Age, we used archaeological evidence to find information

Question 4

What are the two sources.

Answer 4

Secondary and primary

Question 5

Which is more correct Secondary source or primary source

Answer 5

Primary

Question 6

Explain the term primary source

Answer 6

It’s evidence that comes directly from the past

Question 7

Give examples of primary sources

Answer 7

Diary, person who was at the event
Interview, with an eye witness
Letters or emails
Artefacts
Speeches
Autobiography, written by the actual person
Pictures, government records,

Question 8

What is an artefact

Answer 8

It’s an object made by a human.

Ex: coin, tools or pottery

Question 9

Give examples of a secondary source.

Answer 9

Movies
Internet
Biographies, written by another person 
Book, history books 
Tv programmes

Question 10

How do the historians analyse the source.

Answer 10

They ask themselves these questions, where, when, who, why. They look at the time and place rule ( when they look at how close the evidence is written etc….. to the event. Ex: a man telling a story in 2002 about something that happened in 1094) they cross check the source, and they judge weather it should be trusted or not

Question 11

Name the 6 things a historian has to check if they are checking a source. How do they know to trust them

Answer 11

Is it:
Bias
Accuracy
Exaggerated 
Propaganda
Time and place
Opinions

Question 12

What does BCE stand for

Answer 12

Before common era

Question 13

What does CE stand for

Answer 13

Common era

Question 14

How do historians measure time

Answer 14

For short periods: days, hours, minutes
For long periods: years, 2002-2003
For really long periods, centuries. 1900s - 2000s

Question 15

How do objects end in the ground? Archaeological

Answer 15

Some are lost,
Some were buried for safe keeping.
They were buried because people believed they would need them in the afterlife
Abandoned buildings eventually get covered by soil

Question 16

Where can objects be preserved in the ground

Answer 16

Bogs deserts.

Question 17

How are sites chosen to be excavated

Answer 17

Some are chosen because there is reason to believe that there is some sort of evidence there, maybe form an old map or picture. This is called research archaeology
Sometimes when a new building is being built the site is excavated to make sure any evidence is not lost from the past. This is called rescue archaeology

Question 18

What does excavate mean

Answer 18

When archaeologists dig into the ground looking for remains from the past.

Question 19

What does survey mean

Answer 19

A study carried out before archaeologists excavate a site .

Question 20

How do archaeologists prepare a site for excavation.

Answer 20

First they take a survey of the area.
This could be a geophysical survey. This uses a machine like an x Ray to look at the soil underneath the surface.
They might dig test trenches to get any idea of what they might find.
Aerial photos are taken of the site. And a detailed plan of the site is made.

Question 21

How do archaeologists dig up the site.

Answer 21

First the topsoil has to be removed with either a JCB or an spade and pick axe.
Layers of earth are scraped away using a trowel
A handpick is used to loosen soil.
When an object is discovered in the ground they use brushes or tooth brushes so they don’t damage the objects
Shamal objects are found by putting the soil through a sieve

Question 22

What can the soil itself tell an archaeologist about the past

Answer 22

Poles for building houses leave dark round patches, post holes
A square dark patch is a fireplace
A layer of dark soil suggests fire.

Question 23

What is dendrochronology

Answer 23

It’s a type of dating when objects have been discovered. If the object is wooden you can use this method. The number of years old a wooden object is can be told by the number of rings in the wood. A new ring forms every year.

Question 24

What is stratigraphy

Answer 24

The method of dating objects that are found through archeaology they are dated by looking at how far down underground they were found.

Question 25

What is carbon dating

Answer 25

Carbon is in live things. The older the object the less carbon will be in it.

Question 26

Where do archaeologists send the artefacts after they have been excavated and dated.

Answer 26

Museums

Question 27

What can archaeologists tell from a skeleton

Answer 27

Gender, skull pelvis
Height can be estimated by the length of the femur bone.
Age of death, teeth
If it’s well preserved they can reconstruct the face.
Their diet, their bones

Question 28

Explain midden

Answer 28

A mound or deposit containing shells, animal bones, and other refuse that indicates the site of a human settlement.

Question 29

Explain bias

Answer 29

Favouring one side over another

Question 30

Explain propaganda

Answer 30

When information is presented in a certain way to influence people’s opinions from one side to another