Archaeology

Question 1

How do archaeologists find sites below the ground? (8)

Answer 1

1. Chance discoveries
2. Stories from history
3. Maps
4. Geophysical survey
5. Aerial photography
6. Satellites
7. Rescue or salvage archaeology
8. Underwater survey

Question 2

How do archaeologists test the evidence they find in excavations

Answer 2

Dating:
1. Stratigraphy:
The oldest layers and finds are at the bottom, and the latest/youngest are at the top.
2. tree-ring dating or dendrochronology:
Trees grow a new ring of wood each year, these rings vary in thickness depending on conditions. You can figure out when a tree was growing and cut down by the rings.
3. Radiocarbon dating:
Organisms take in carbon-14 when they are alive and this decays once they die. The age of the organism can be worked out by measuring the amount of radiocarbon left in the sample/piece.

Question 3

How do archaeologists excavate sites? (11)

Answer 3

1. The site is surveyed and an accurate plan is drawn up.
2. mechanical diggers take away topsoil
3. A grid of squares is laid out to record the location of finds accurately.
4. Archaeologists dig using shovels and trowels.
5. Archaeologists use brushes to clear around objects.
6. Sieves are used to recover small artefacts.
7. All artefacts are numbered and stored in separate bags.
8. All finds are recorded in a site book.
9. Photographs and drawings record the site
10. Finds are investigated in a laboratory
11. Finds are stored in museums