history Flashcards
4 steps of excavating an area
1 Fence off the site from the public
2 Make a site map and number each section
Remove topsoil with a digger and begin carefully digging layer by layer with a trowel, brush, sieve, photographic scales
3 Found artefacts are photographed, put in air tight container and location is marked on site map
4.Archaeologists look out for postholes
problems one may face while excavating an area
Problems -> weather, time and legal difficulties
what is carbon 14 dating
Carbon 14 dating: anything that once lived contains carbon 14. After death the carbon slowly leaks away. Consequently, by measuring how much carbon 14 is left archaeologists can determine how old the object is.
what is stratigraphy
This involves taking careful note of the layers of soil. If something with a known date, such as a coin, is found at the same level or strata as an object then it can help tell the object’s age.
what is dendrochronology
This involves the study of tree rings. Each ring represents a year of the tree’s growth. By studying these tree rings patterns an archaeologist can learn the date of wooden objects.
how do archaeologist excavate a site? 11 steps.
1 A site survey is completed.
2 Mechanical diggers remove the topsoil.
3 A grid of squares is mapped out.
4 Archaeologists dig carefully, layer by layer, using shovels and trowels.
5 Brushes are used to clean around objects.
6 Sieves are used to recover small artefacts.. Found objects are numbered and stored in separate bags.
- Found objects are numbered and stored in separate bags.
- Finds are catalogued in a site book or computer.
- Photographs and drawings record each stage of the dig.
- Finds are dated in a laboratory.
- Finds are stored or put on display in a museum e.g. the National Museum of Ireland.
what is conservation?
Conservation is the protection and preservation of ancient objects so that they do not decay.
how long did the roman empire last?
753 BC – 476 AD (1,228 years.)
how many people did rome rule in 117 ad
more than 45 million people
what was a patricians city house called
domus
underfloor heating system name
hypocaust
dinner of rich romans
cena - crows, dormice, swans, peacocks, roses
7-11 roman children went to…
ludus
how old were boys in the grammar school?
12-16
wedding ceremonies called
confarreation
