Archaeology Flashcards
Describe what an archaeologist & historian is and what is the relationship between them?
Archaeologists: deduce information about the past through analysing & excavating artefacts
Historian: gives an interpretation of the past from written evidence
Relationship: they must rely on each other for written evidence and physical artefacts. Archaeology is the study of lifestyle and people where writing was not invented while history rewrites events based on written narratives to provide evidence.
Outline the importance of documentation and recording on an archaeological site
- allows us to preserve it for other generations
- before it is destroyed (naturally, due to man-made forces)
- part of history
- better understanding of context, conservation
Distinguish between soft and hard tissue remains
Soft tissue: organic material which has been unusually preserved. Found in bogs, glaciers or intended (mummification) such as skin & hair
Hard tissue: very commonly found, organic material which is left after soft tissue has decomposed, bones
Why is soft tissue remains hard to find?
Due to it easily composing, unless usually preserved
list & describe 4 ways identifying the gender of skeletons
- sciatic notch: larger in females
- brow ridge: more prominent in men
- pelvis bone: larger in women for birth passage
- DNA: most reliable method
can you identify a child skeleton?
no, it is almost impossible due to them not developing through puberty, no prominent features
Methods for locating/discovering sites:
- pre-existing maps from old civilisations
- GPR (ground penetrating radar)
- magnetometry (electromagnetic signals)
- sonar (sound)
- aerial photography
- crop marks/ uneven growth of flora
how does a magnetometer work?
- measure the magnetic field’s direction
- how magnetic an object is
what are the types of excavations and explain:
Research: site select by an archaeologist which was known beforehand for answering question/s.
Rescue: excavation of site which is under threat due to planned development (roads, bridge). Given limited time
Salvage: a site where it has been revealed unexpectedly due to circumstances such as nature (wind, sun, erosion).
List and explain site excavation techniques
- Wheeler’s box/grid system: grid of square boxes with baulks in between
- quadrant: site is divided into quarters, excavated separately
- trench: long narrow rectangular shaped excavation
- open area: removal of soil layer by layer of whole area
what are the pros/cons of these techniques:
wheelers box:
PRO: allows stratigraphy to be shown, able to work separately
CON: loss of context until baulks are removed, used in early 20th century
Quadrant:
PRO: perfect for circular features, limits damage
CON: n/a
Trench:
PRO: good for linear features
Open Area:
PRO: allows better understanding/context, most common, study of complex features and relationships between it and horizontal context
CON: very destructive
Features of a coin:
Obverse:
- has the ‘head’
- legend: words which accompany illustration
- type: image on front
Reverse:
- field: background of the design
- exurge: space between baseline of subject
best method to date coin
typology
distiguish between relative and absolute dating methods:
Relative:
- cheap
- not very reliable
- subjective based on opinion
- minimal damage to artefact
Absolute:
- scientific methods
- expensive
- very reliable
- destroys artefact when testing
examples of relative and absolute dating methods and brief descriptions:
Relative:
- typology (dating based on other artefacts, development)
- stratigraphy (looking at layers of soil, in context, chronological order)
- fluorine (for bones)
Absolute:
- radiocarbon dating (measuring carbon in organic material)
- thermoluminescence (used in clay/baked goods, measurement of light emitted)
- dendrochronology (tree rings, matching)
