Key Terms

Question 1

Prehistory

Answer 1

Prehistory: the period or time before writing was used

Question 2

Archaeology

Answer 2

Archaeology: the study of the remains left by people in the past

Question 3

Historical Consciousness

Answer 3

Historical consciousness: being able to place ourselves in past human experience, linking the
past, the present and the future

Question 4

Historian

Answer 4

Historian: someone who is an expert in, or a student of, history

Question 5

Archaeologist

Answer 5

Archaeologist: someone who investigates places and objects left by people in the past,
including the time before written records were kept

Question 6

Cross checking

Answer 6

Cross-checking: when more than one source is used to make sure the information is correct

Question 7

Archive

Answer 7

Archive: a place that catalogues and stores a collection of written and other sources

Question 8

Museum

Answer 8

Museum: a place that collects and displays objects for public education and appreciation

Question 9

Primary source

Answer 9

Primary source: a source from the time in question; a first-hand account of what happened

Question 10

Secondary source

Answer 10

Secondary source: a source from a later date, after the time in question

Question 11

5 ways to find sites

Answer 11

Some sites are big and obvious
Aerial photographs
Research archaeology
Rescue archaeology
By accident

Question 12

Research archaeology

Answer 12

Using old documents /maps to investigate whether an ancient building or structure once existed on the site.

Question 13

Rescue archaeology

Answer 13

Carrying out a dig before a new building or road is built to ensure no artefacts are last/destroyed.

Question 14

Five methods of dating

Answer 14

Radiocarbon dating
Geophysical surveying
Pollen analysis
Stratigraphy
Dendrochronology