Set 1 Flashcards
1
Q
Anthropology
A
holistic study of people
2
Q
What is the purpose of anthropology?
A
document and understand biological and cultural diversity
3
Q
What do anthropologists do?
A
study ancient civilizations, cultures, genetic and human variability, non-human primates, languages, etc
4
Q
4 Field Approach
A
- Cultural
- Physical/ Biological
- Linguistics
- Archaeology
5
Q
What is culture?
A
learned behaviors, often unconscious standards which people interpret/ act/ understand world
6
Q
Cultural Anthropology
A
(ethnology, ethnography)
use participant observation and learning from informants
7
Q
Physical Anthropology
A
human biology osteology (skeletal system) paleoanthropology (human fossils) primatology (non-human primate behavior) forensic (applied osteology and context)
8
Q
Linguistics
A
historical and social (2 branches)
9
Q
Archaeology
A
study of material remains (artifacts)
10
Q
What is archaeology?
A
study of former societies through remains of material culture, of past cultures
11
Q
Classes of Archaeology
A
Prehistoric
Classical
Historical
Underwater
12
Q
Field Study: Orogen People
A
Siberia; enthnoarchaeologist studies lives of modern Orogen people
13
Q
The Ice Maiden
A
Peru; Incan mummy rested high on Ampato volcano
14
Q
Terracotta Warriors
A
Shaanxi Province; archaeologists excavate and record/reconstruct warrior at tomb of first emperor of China
15
Q
What are some examples of specialists within the field of archaeology?
A
paleoethnobotany, zoo archaeology, ethic technologists
16
Q
Why is it important to study the past?
A
to understand world we live in and our roles, help responses to modern day challenges, provide both self and cultural identity
17
Q
Hesiod’s 5 Stages
A
Age of Gold Age of SIlver Age of Bronze Age of Epic Heroes Age of Iron
18
Q
Pele and the Birth of Hawai’i
A
fiery gods battle for mountain home, shark god teaches surfing, surfer smell a reminder of god’s presence
19
Q
Pharaoh Thutmose IV
A
“archaeologist”
15th BC; ordered excavation of Great Sphinx, left record of work on stone tablets
20
Q
Nabonidus
A
“archaeologists”
Babylon; last ruler (died 538 BC), excavated Babylon to find inscription and evidence of earlier kings
used god and social memory to legitimize rule
21
Q
European Renaissance (14th-17th C)
A
rediscovery of ancient Greeks/Romans, antiquarians (art appreciation for sake of collecting)
22
Q
What were some of the first excavations?
A
Pompeii, Italy (1748)
Huaca de Tabtallue, Peru (1765)
Virginia Buria Mound by Thomas Jefferson (1748)
23
Q
Thomas Jefferson
A
made first scientific excavations in US, aimed to find evidence of indigenous mound-builders
24
Q
Cyrus Thomas (1825-1910)
A
12 years of research, published report in 1894, concluded mounds built by Native Americans
25
Richard Cole Hoare (Early 1800s)
excavated 100s of burial mounds in UK
| developed TYPOLOGY of mounds
26
What are some key conceptual advances?
antiquity of earth/humankind, Darwin's principles of evolution, Thomsen's 3-Age system
27
Archbishop James Ussher (AD 1581-1656)
“calculated” the age of Earth based on the bible, written genealogies, and other sources
world created on Saturday October 22, 4004 BC
28
Stone Tools (17th C)
no conceptual place for human artifacts, explained as "thuderstones" or "fairy stones"
29
Creationism
god created perfect world, exactly as we see it
30
Catastrophism
catastrophic natural events changed world dramatically (explained through study)
31
Principle of Uniformitarianism (18th – 19th C)
same geological processes observed in present have been at work in the past (uniform processes)
processes are so slow, that the formations on Earth must be very ancient
32
Stratigraphy
sub-surface layers produce ordered group of fossils
33
Darwin's Principle of Evolution (1859)
On the Origin of Species
evolution is best explanation of origin and change of species over long periods of time
mechanism: natural selection
34
Three-Age System
Stone (old and new); Paleolithic and neolithic
Bronze
Iron
35
Christian Thomsen
developed three age system
| first to order artifacts chronologically based on context of find
36
Jens Jacob Worsaae
proved Thomsen's chronology accurate using excavation
37
What are some key scientific advances?
development of excavation techniques, multidisciplinary approaches, scientific methods, refinement of archaeological theory
38
Ethnography
studies of living cultures applied to aid interpreting past cultures (similar simple tools etc)
39
What did Taylor and Morgan (1870s) argue to be the suggested model for human progression?
3 stages; savagery (hunting), barbarian (simple farming), civilization (highest form)
40
By what time was the conceptual basis for modern archaeology initiated
1800s
41
Mesopotamia
1800s: library of cuneiform tablets found
1850s: cuneiform deciphered using trilingual rock-cut text (Henry Rawlinson)
42
Mesoamerica
1840s: Yucaten explored, publishing of ruined Mayan city (Stephens)
contested "vanished white race" theories
1960s: mayan glyphs deciphered
43
Troy
1870s-1880s; Homer's Iliad encouraged search (Heinrich Schliemann), stratigraphy used
also excavated Mycenae
44
Excavation Techniques: General Pitt-Rivers (1800s)
recovery of ALL artifacts, all details accurately recorded in MILITARY PRECISION
45
Excavation Techniques: Sir Mortimer Wheeler (1930s)
archaeology=destruction, publication and training, FULL DISCLOSURE
46
Excavation Techniques: WMF Petrie
emphasized detailed excavation and publication, introduced SEQUENCE/ SERIATION DATING
Naqada, Egypt
47
AV Kidder (1885-1963)
stressed anthropological understanding, incorporated many lines of research
built a ceramic typology of the North American Southwest based on stratigraphy
worked in Mesoamerica (Mayan ruins)
48
Sir John Marshall
1922: uncovered Indus Valley Civilization
| excavated Bronze Age city (Mohenjodaro) and historic Taxila
49
Gordon Childe (1892-1957)
leading scholar and innovator, dating artifact assemblages (CHRONOLOGICAL SEQUENCES)
argued indigenous development vs near eastern invaders or diffusion )trade)
suggested Neolithic revolution
50
Franz Boas (1858-1942)
detailed retrieval and analysis or artifacts/data, massive data base of cultural characteristics: pottery and basket decor
51
What was the "direct historical approach" used by Frans Boas?
back-tacking ancient pottery etc from modern Indian pottery
52
What was the ecological approach Julian Steward (1970-72) explained?
cultural changes
how living cultures function
stressed interaction with environment
53
Cultural Ecology
assessing cultural change from different adaptations to environment
54
Gordon Willer (1913-2002)
studied one of the earliest settlement pattern (Viru Valley, Peru)
55
Graham Clark (1907-95)
examined how cultures adapted to environment, used different specialists/ analysis
56
What archaeological sciences had risen post WW II?
radiocarbon/C14 dating, dating sites and independent chronology
1960s: change in approach to interpreting archaeological data
57
Why did the Hittite Kingdom collapse in 1200 BC?
sources: internal turmoil about royal succession, sea peoples N. Kaska tribes (empire overstretched)
58
Culture
an integrated system of beliefs, traditions, and customs that govern/influence a person's behavior
learned/shared by members of group based on ability to think in terms of symbols
59
Unilinear Evolution
savagery--> civilization
60
What is ideational perspective on human behavior?
shaped by ideas, symbols, and mental structures
61
What is adaptive perspective on human behavior?
shared by technology, ecology, demography and economy
62
Processual Archaeology
Lewis Binford
how cultures change over time, group agency, not individual seeks law
culture as system, adaptive approach
scientific/objective disconnected from present
63
Systems Theory
allowed archaeologists to break down findings in elemental system components
64
Scientific Method
1. observe/define problem
2. hypothesis
3. empirical implication
4. data collection
5. test
6. analysis/interpretation
7. publish
8. retest
65
What are the level of archaeological theory?
HIGH: big questions
MIDDLE: behavior from data
LOW: data
66
What are some examples of middle level theories?
ethnoarchaeology, experimental archaeology
67
Ian Hodder
postprocessual archaeology; emphasizes role of individual, interested in particular details over grand scheme
symbols and ideas, to jus functions
archaeology political and truth is subjective
68
What are some themes of postprocessual archaeology?
feminist, marxist, identity
69
Gender Archaeology
examination of gender roles and inequality in profession of archaeology
1984; before, "man" used often to refer to humanity, little consideration for person behind artifact
(Patty Jo Watson and Mary Kennedy)
70
Harriet Boyd Hawes
1892; discoverer of Minoan town site of Gournia, Crete
71
Beatrice de Cardi
"I am not woman or a man when I am working in the Gulf or anywhere else"
72
Gertrude Caton-Thompson
work at Great Zimbabwe confirmed that the site was the work of a major African culture
73
Anna O Shepard
acknowledged expert in ceramics of American SW and Mesoamerica
74
Tatiana Proskouriakoff
work on Maya glyphs contributed greatly to their final development
75
Mary Leaky
working on fossilized hominid footprints at Laetoli, Tanzania
76
What are key principles go public archaeology?
material record of past is public resource
steps should be taken to mitigate the impacts
developer pays
77
What is indigenous architecture?
Marginalized groups are often overlooked/misunderstood
| notion of cultural heritage may not be product of western thought
78
What did western conception of indigenous culture lead to?
western conceived notion of cultural heritage has been seen as imposition of western values, leading to homogenization and undervaluation of cultural diversity
79
What ideas does pseudo-archaeology build upon?
political/national/ethnic/religious ideal to legitimize
personal goals, since results can be popularized
intrigued possibilities
80
Pseudo-archaeology
interpretations of past from outside of academic archaeological community
results in broad misunderstanding about past
81
How does pseudo-archaeology work?
takes certain "holes" in history and fills with wildly incorrect hypothesis
believed do to media's love for entertainment rather than historical accuracy
82
What are some issues at play when viewing pseudo-archaeology?
Who has historical right to land?
Who owns past?
Who has "prouder" more noble past?
83
Who has historical right?
many governments used good/bad archaeology to get claims to land
84
Who owns past?
complex question
| e.g., The Kennewick man
85
The Kennewick man
NA tribes fought US gov't for ownership
| later studies suggested closest relations to Kennewick man --> Ainu (indigenous Japan)
86
What is a popular example of archaeology and politics?
Germany sent archaeologists to dig N Europe, prove Germans were "master race" descending from aryans
shocker: concluded to be master race
87
What patterns are seen in argument made by pseudo-archaeologists?
typically present themselves as underdogs facing much larger archaeological establishment
evidence often single picture that can be misleading
88
a priori
knowledge that is acquired independently of any particular experience
89
What type of conclusion is made by pseudo-archaeologists about their beliefs?
a priori
90
Garbology
study of modern refuse and trash; invented by William Rathje
91
What are the classes of archaeological data?
artifacts, features, ecofacts
92
Artifacts
portable objects owing form to humans
93
Ecofacts
portable objects that have cultural significance but do not owe form due to human interference
94
Features
non-portable human-made remains that can't be removed without destroying original form
95
Site
spatial cluster of artifacts, eco facts, and features
| place where human activity took place
96
What are factors noted about a site?
geographic location, function, cultural affiliation, chronological affiliation
97
Name and describe the two site formation processes
Behavioral: human activities that produce tangible archaeological remains
Transformational: conditions that affect archaeological data from time of deposition to time of recovery
98
Matrix
physical medium around remains
99
In situ
from original, used to describe primary context
100
Secondary Context
context of artifact that has been altered by transformation/site formation processes after its original deposition
101
Provenience
dimensional location of artifact/feature
| i.e., horizontal and vertical dimensions
102
Horizontal Dimension
(x, y)
103
Vertical Dimension
(z)
104
Taphonomy
deals with the processes of fossilization
105
Taphos
burial
106
Nomos
laws
107
N-transformation
natural formation process
108
C-transformation
cultural transformation proces
109
Bank and Ditch (1960)
together, with changes revealed by sections cut across earthwork
110
What are the two types of cultural formation processes?
original human behavior and behaviors after burial
111
Original human behavior often reflected archaeologically in at least four major activities...
1. acquisition of raw materials
2. manufacture
3. use and distribution
4. disposal after tool worn out/broken
112
Life cycle of an artifact
acquisition --> manufacture --> use --> discard
113
Tomb of Qin Shihuang (246 BC)
700,00 laborers worked for 36 yrs
| 32 m underground, 55 sq m
114
What as an example of a natural formation process involving STONE TOOLS?
inorganic; wear patterns
115
What as an example of a natural formation process involving FRIED CLAY?
inorganic; becomes indestructible
116
What as an example of a natural formation process involving metals?
copper and bronze deteriorate
| gold, silver, lead survive well
117
Bronze Head Restoration
Croatia; bronze head statue of Greek male athlete survived well
118
What factors affect the survival of organic materials?
matrix (surroundings), acid soils--> rapid decay
| climate; tropical/ temperate/ natural disasters
119
What are some extreme environmental conditions?
dry environments; predynastic Egyptian mummies
cold environments; hold decay process; Siberian mammoths
waterlogged; llullaillaco girl
120
Ice Man Recovery
oldest fully preserved human, emerged from melted ice that preserved body for 5000+ years
121
Red Cedar Carving
shape of whales dorsal fin with 700 sea-otter teeth
122
Qilakitsoq
mummy of 6 mo baby
123
How are sites discovered?
1. Reconnaissance; physical exploration
| 2. Instrumental survey; using instruments as satellite to map/plan
124
Low Mounds, L'anse aux Meadows
turned out to be remains of huts with walls of piled turf and wooden support frame
lack evidence= short lived settlement
125
Unsystematic Survey
discovering sites
126
Systemic Survey
locating off-site areas
127
What are some qualities of a survey?
good maps, choosing sample strategy, transfect/squares, standardized artifact forms, small excavations
128
Field notes
1. location
2. what was found
3. observations about site
129
Sampling types
simple random, stratified random (split), systemic, stratified unaligned systemic (exception systemic)
130
Extensive Survey
adding results from series of individual projects
131
Intensive Survey
total coverage of single site/ site cluster
132
Aerial Survey
1. data collection (e.g., satellite images)
| 2. data analysis
133
Oblique vs verticale aerial photographs?
oblique (angled) better to view, vertical better for planning/mapping
134
How are crop marks formed?
crops grow taller over sunken features, often visible from aerial viewpoint
135
Remains of Romano-British Farm, Holbeach
features in relief show remains of. farm
136
What are some advancements in surveying techniques?
GPS digital image analysis, drones, LIDAR and SLAR, satellite imagery
137
LIDAR
light detection and ranging; tree canopies can be eliminated, enable ground features to be viewed under optimal lioghting
138
SLAR
side looking airborne radar; recording radar images the return of electromagnetic pulses
139
The City of Caracol
only tiny portion cleared of jungle, 3D LIDAR projection reveals features
