Archaeological Record

Learning Objectives Understand how archaeologists gather information about past cultures. Understand how the archaeological process works, and the ways archaeologists use science to explore how people lived in the past. Describe how studies of material culture can serve as a form of data to improve knowledge about human behavioral variability in past and contemporary societies

Doing Archaeology Locating Sites Excavation Dating Techniques Artifact Analysis Site & Regional Synthesis

Survey Physical examination of a geographical region Possible location of site Ground, aerial, GPR, GIS

Excavation Systematic uncovering of archaeological remains Removal of soil deposits and other materials

Interpreting the Past Subsistence Strategies Human Societies Ecological niches Can the environment influence population size? How so? Human Societies Bands, Tribes, Chiefdoms, & States

Interpreting the Past Subsistence Strategies Food Collectors Food Producers Horticulturists & Agriculturists Foragers Pastoralists Massai Inuit Dani

Interpreting the Past Human societies Remember Morgan, Radcliffe-Brown, Malinowski, Boas…. After WWII Archaeological & ethnographic information Considered: 1. Key points in social change 2. Avoidance of stereotypes & ethnocentrism

Interpreting the Past: Social Organization Bands: approximately 50 people, egalitarian, generally observed in foraging groups San ‘Bushman’ Inuit

Interpreting the Past: Social Organization Tribes: relatively egalitarian, sometimes a ‘big man’, generally pastoralists & small agricultural societies Sami Massai

Interpreting the Past: Social Organization Chiefdoms: inequalities to wealth & power, craft production, larger population size States: stratified society, defined territory, governmental institutions Empires: forms when one state conquers another

Interpreting the Past: What are Material Remains?

Interpreting the Past: What are Material Remains? Artifact Any movable object that has been used, modified, or manufactured by humans Stone, bone, metal tools; beads & other ornaments, pottery, artwork, religious & sacred items

Interpreting the Past: What are Material Remains? Ecofact Artifacts that convey information on the environment Seeds, animals bones, soil

Interpreting the Past: What are Material Remains? Midden Refuse deposit resulting from human activities Consists of sediment Food remains & discarded artifacts

Interpreting the Past: What are Material Remains? Feature Nonmoveable articles Hearths, pits, or house floors Reveal information on settlement & subsistence

Interpreting the Past: Importance of Context An artifact’s context Specific location where it was found How it relates to other artifacts around it Why is context important? Time & space Systemic study of the past in its context