Historians and Archaeologists Flashcards
What are historians interested in?
The types of houses people lived in The type of food they ate The types of clothes they wore Tools and weapons Burial customs The jobs at which they worked How they spent their leisure time The sports people played
Prehistoric period
The prehistoric period is before writing was used – we rely on archaeology for our evidence of this period
Historic period
The historic period is when people used writing
What is a source
It is evidence, for example documents and pictures, used by historians to find out what happened in the past
sources examples
written, spoken, visual or an object from the past
Primary source
Comes directly from the event, eg. photograph, diaries, speeches
Secondary source
Evidence that comes not directly from the event, eg. history books, movies, tv shows
Where you can find sources
- Archives
- Libraries
- Museums
Steps historians take
Read or look at the source carefully 2.Ask themselves •Where was it created? •When was it made? •Why was it made? •By whom? Examine how close the author was to the event being described Judge if the source is reliable Use as many sources as possible to make sure their story is accurate
Time and place rule
Examining how close the author was to the event being described
Cross-checking
Using as many sources as possible to make sure their story is accurate
how to judge the reliability of sources
- Bias
- Accuracy
- Exaggeration
- Propaganda
- Time and place
- Opinions
BC/BCE
event happened before Christ
AD/CE
happened after the birth of Christ
archeology
The study of the remains left by our ancestors
artefacts
Objects made by humans, e.g. coins, tools and pottery
excavate
When archaeologists dig in the ground looking for remains from the past
sources
Evidence, for example documents and pictures, used by historians to find out what happened in the past
survey
A study carried out on a site before archaeologists start digging
how do objects end up in the ground?
Some are lost
They can be put in the ground for safe-keeping and forgotten about
In pre-Christian times they were buried with dead people
Buildings abandoned and over time covered in soil
good conditions for preserving objects
very cold conditions
•very wet conditions
•very dry conditions
•e.g. bodies have been found in bogs in Ireland
choosing sites of excavations
research archaeology
rescue archaeology
accident
research archaeology
when a site is chosen because there is evidence that objects could be found
rescue archaeology
archaeologists sometimes dig on a site before a new road or building is built to make sure no evidence from the past is lost
excavation steps
- preparation
- the dig
- evaluation
excavating a site - preparation
- Survey of site is carried out. Narrows down where to start digging.
- geophysical survey is carried out. Similar to x-ray, they use a machine to look at soil underneath surface. Can tell how much earth has been disturbed by human activity.
- Dig test trenches to get some idea of amount of remains expected to be discovered.
- Aerial photographs taken. Show size of site and pick up features missed on ground.
- Detailed plan is made. Site divided into numbered one-metre square areas to investigate.
excavating a site - the dig
Topsoil removed, often with JCB. Spades & pickaxes also used.
Once topsoil cleared, archaeologists can begin to look for remains.
Use a number of tools during excavation:
-layers of earth scrapped away using trowel
-hand-pick used to loosen soil
-when object discovered, have to be careful not to damage. Use brushes and toothbrushes so its not damaged.
-photograph taken after discovery
what soil can tell about the past
timber poles used for building houses leave dark round patches called post-holes
square dark patch suggests fireplace
layer of dark soil suggests site was destroyed by fire
dating an object
coin with sword, coins usually have dates
pollen at site,
artwork & design can tell age, eg. piece of pottery
methods of dating an object
stratigraphy
carbon dating
dendrochronology
stratigraphy
Dates object by depth at which they are found.
Deeper object is found, the older it is.
Carbon or radiocarbon dating
used to find age of object that once lived. All living objects eg. humans, plants, animals, have carbon 14. When they die, amount begins to decline. older an object - less carbon present
Dendrochronology
Used to date wooden objects eg. parts of buildings or logs. V Every year tree grows new ring. Age of tree determined by number of rings in trunk.
Studying pattern of rings - can estimate age of wooden object.
Where artefacts can be stored
university, museum,
what we can find out from the skeleton
- Male or female - pelvis, skull
- Height of the person - length of thigh, ie femur bone
- The age - teeth
- Cause of death - evidence of wound eg hole in skull
- Facial reconstruction - can happen if skull well preserved
- Their diet - scientific analysis of bones
- DNA evidence
Definition of history
the study of events that happened in the past and the story of human activity
