Archaeology

Question 1

Highlighted questions from slides - What is archaeology?

Answer 1

Archaeology is the study of past human behaviours through material remains

First archaeological evidence dates back to 2.6mya when first stone tools where found

• starts when humans begin to modify their world (I.e. make stone tools)
• remains more complex and rich after 40000BP (upper palaeolithic)

Question 2

What is an archaeological record?

Answer 2

All material evidence from human activity that has been discovered through archaeology

Question 3

What is an archaeological site?

Answer 3

Location of remains of past human activity

Question 4

Highlighted questions from slides - What are the different types of archaeological evidence?

Answer 4

1. Artifacts - objects that have been modified by humans or is a by product of human activities (e.g. lithics (rocks), ceramics, wood, bone, metal and glass)
2. Features - large and/or immobile artifacts
3. Ecofacts - natural materials that give evidence for environmental context (e.g. palynology (pollen study) coprolites (fossilized feces), insects, zooarchaeology (animal bones in an archaeology site)

Most common artifacts are rocks - stone tools, stone weapon tips etc.

Question 5

Highlighted questions from slides - In archaeological terms what is context? Why is it important?

Answer 5

Information surrounding materials in their original location (undisturbed or in situ) and their relationship to other materials

Important to understand context, want to understand exactly where everything is in relation to everything else (how the item is used, same pot different location but how it was used, food gathering, ceremony etc)

Question 6

In terms of archaeology what is provenience?

Answer 6

The exact 3-D location of materials at a site

Question 7

Highlighted questions from slides - What is taphonony?

Answer 7

Study of processes that affect sites (creation, preservation and disturbance) or the study of life at a site

• nature of the material (stone versus bark versus hide)
• unusual environments (dry, peat tannis, cold)
• sites are vulnerable to human disturbance

STATES: be able to give example from class and text if unusual preservation)

Question 8

What is prehistoric or pre-contact?

Answer 8

Prehistoric are the earliest artifacts until the appearance of written records 5000 years ago

Precontact - is prior to Europeans settling in areas such as the Americas, India etc

Question 9

What does historic archaeology allow?

Answer 9

Historic archaeology started with written records - so this allows comparison of documents such as battles, first nation territories, location of historic sites etc

Question 10

Highlighted questions from slides - What are the six steps in archaeology in order?

Answer 10

1. Overview
2. Survey
3. Excavation
4. Analysis
5. Reporting
6. Reconstruction

Question 11

Highlighted questions from slides -Describe what happens in the overview phase of archaeology?

Answer 11

Pre- field studies such as GIS studies, examining previous studies, myths and informants and determining the archaeological potential

Question 12

Highlighted questions from slides - Describe what happens during the survey stage of archaeology in progress?

Answer 12

Finding snd recording sites - so doing surveys with non-invasive techniques such as aerial imagery ( satellite or air photos) sediment surveys (GPR, magnetic spectrometry)

Question 13

Highlighted questions from slides - describe what happens during the excavation stage of archaeology in progress?

Answer 13

Systematic exposure, recovery and recording of archaeological remains

• As excavation destroys the site there is one chance only so planning etc is important - note taking, measurements, photos, sketches, dating of samples
• Important to which strategy to be used testing or excavation
• Ensure permission from correct authorities and landforms (e.g. Historical resources act of 1980)
• All measurements are from the nail used to divide de dig plots

Question 14

Highlighted questions from slides scribe - Describe what happens during the analysis stage of archaeology in progress?

Answer 14

Lab work - conservation, cleaning and cataloguing, identify and typology, metric analysis, analysis of materials collected (sediment, artifacts etc)

Question 15

Highlighted questions from slides - Describe what happens during the reporting stage of archaeology in progress?

Answer 15

Description and reporting

• time, extent and relationship to other sites
• predictive models for future studies
• submission of all project materials with catalogues etc to authorities
• In Alberta use Archaeological Site Form

Question 16

Highlighted questions from slides - Describe what happens during the reconstruction stage of archaeology in progress?

Answer 16

Reconstruction and education

• public education and preservation
• reconstruction only occurs with the most important sites such as Fort Edmonton and L’anse aux meadows

Question 17

Highlighted questions from slides - What is CRM?

Answer 17

Cultural resource management

• management of cultural heritage including landscapes, archaeological sites and records, artifacts and intangible heritage
• examples -Aswan low dam (constructed in 1902), Rossdale, Molson brewery, UNESCO temple complex at Philae on Nile moved 0.5 km

STATES: and why do we do it … not stated in your notes you will have to find

Question 18

Highlighted questions from slides - What are some examples/types/ specialization of archaeology?

Answer 18

• biblical
• classical
• maritime
• human osteoarchaelogy ( study of human bones)
• palaeopathology (study of ancient diseases of humans)