Archaeology Flashcards
What does it mean to excavate?
When archaeologists dig the ground looking for remains from the past.
What are artefacts?
Objects made by humans,for example, coins, tools and pottery.
What is a survey?
A study carried out on the site before archaeologists start digging.
What is research archaeology?
This is when a site is chosen because there is evidence that objects/skeletons could be found.
What is rescue archaeology?
Archaeologists sometimes dig before a new road or building is built to make sure no evidence from the past is lost.
What is a posthole?
Post holes are dark round patches left in the ground, and provide evidence of wooden poles used for building houses.
What is stratigraphy?
This is the dating of objects by the depth of which they are found in the ground.The deeper down the object, is the older it is.
What is carbon and radiocarbon dating?
All living things contain carbon-14.When they die the amount of carbon slowly declines.The older the object, the less carbon-14 is left.
What is dendochronology?
This is used to date wooden objects depending on the number of rings it has.
What is DNA?
Archaeologists use DNA testing to find out more about skeletons. DNA is present in the cells of our bodies.It is passed from generation to generation.
