Doing Archaeology Part 1 Flashcards
What is Anthropology?
The study of humans
5 subfields of anthropology
Cultural Biological Linguistic Archaeology Applied (possible)
What is Archaeology?
The systematic, scientific recovery and analysis of artifacts in order to answer questions about past human culture and behavior
Why study Archaeology?
- Written record only accounts for a small fraction of human history
- Historical Accuracy
- Helps us understand human history and culture
- Learn from the past to improve the present and future
A uniquely human means of non-biological adaption; a repertoire of learned behaviors for coping with the physical and social environments
Culture
An organized group(s) of interdependent people who generally share a common territory, language, and culture and who act together for collective survival and well-being
Society
The process by which human societies changed in the past
Culture Process
How different historical processes are similar in different societies/areas
Equifinality
Three parts of cultural process
Invention
Diffusion
Migration
How ideas/traits spread from one culture to another
Diffusion
Combination of knowledge and manufacturing techniques that enables people to convert raw materials to finished products
Techonology
The management and organization of the affairs of a group to ensure survival
Economy
Arrangements between individuals and groups in society that structure relationships and activites
Organization
A body of practices, procedures, and rules used by those who work in a discipline or engage in an inquiry
Methodology
to collect and study artifacts
Recovery and Analysis
any place where physical remains of past human activities existed
Site
objects made or used by people that are analyzed by archaeologists to obtain information about the peoples who made and used them
Artifact
a group of artifacts recurring together at a particular time and place, and representing the sum of human activity
Artifact Assemblage
non-portable artifacts
Features (i.e. houses)
natural remains that help archaeologists understand diet, subsistence, past environments, etc.
Ecofacts
the totality of physical remains of past societies
Material Culture
in situ
in its natural or original position or place of deposition
he source, origin, or location of an artifact or feature
Provenience
the relationship that artifacts have to each other and the situation in which they are found
Context
a detailed description of a particular culture, primary based on fieldwork
Ethnography
