How do we uncover the past?

Where does our information come from? Archaeological evidence ◦ Remains of people & animals ◦ Artifacts (human-made objects) Oral history (history that is passed on without being written down) Primary documents Legends (stories of humans with basis in fact) Secondary sources

Which professions contribute to the study of the past? Archaeologists: study the remains of early civilizations & people Paleontologists: study the remains of animals & plants (fossils) Anthropologists: study the origins, development, social habits & culture of humans Paleoanthropologists: study the fossils & remains of humans & their ancestors

Which professions contribute to the study of the past? Historians: gather information from a variety of sources to create a record of past events Ethnologists: study people and culture; some historians develop theories about the past based on ethnological studies of similar groups/cultures. Other scientists: historians and archaeologists often rely on experts in geography, computers, DNA, etc. to help them identify and analyze their finds.

A LITTLE HISTORY TEACHER PROPAGANDA A LITTLE HISTORY TEACHER PROPAGANDA

What tools do archaeologists use? Excavating tools: trowel, shovels, brushes, dust pan, dental tools, buckets, sifter/screen, etc. Measuring & surveying tools: tape measure, photo scales, optical line meters, etc. Recording tools: camera, pencil, paper, etc.

Preparing and Executing a Dig 1. Assemble a dig team: field director, supervisors, crew, other professionals (e.g. surveyor, photographer) 2. Remove top layers of soil: Look for stains (indicate remains of fire pit, wooden structure or midden) and artifacts 3. Carefully excavate findings 4. Record findings: make field notes, take photos, map location, bag and label 5. Analyze findings: 75% of archaeology is lab analysis of artifacts

Dig Precautions Archaeology is destructive so great care must be taken at a dig: Remove soil carefully so that all objects are found in place Ensure no artifacts are missed Don’t use tools in any way that would damage artifacts

Underwater Archaeology Uses same techniques, but excavations are more challenging Conventional dives can be no deeper than 35 metres & 4 hours long Limited mobility, visibility & dexterity Artifacts must be treated to avoid decomposition

Types of Artifacts Organic Remains: plants, animals, people Inorganic Remains: tools, pottery, etc. Organic artifacts are best preserved in dry, hot areas (e.g. deserts), extremely cold regions (e.g. Arctic) & waterlogged conditions (e.g. bogs, seafloor)

Study of Artifacts Organic & inorganic remains can tell us how people used the materials around them & what food they ate Study of these artifacts can also reveal what they were used for (e.g. weapons) Human remains can tell us about life expectancy, common diseases, occupations, etc.

Dating Artifacts Stratigraphy: studying the layers at a site to determine age Radiocarbon dating: measuring the level of radioisotope carbon 14 in organic remains to find age ◦ All living things absorb carbon during their life ◦ At death, carbon is released at a constant rate ◦ Rate of decay helps calculate accurate age

Your turn… Watch the following video. With a partner, pretend you are paleoanthropologists working at a dig site where this discovery has been made. Create a series of questions that you would ask about this find in order to learn as much as possible about it.

The real find “Jane”, 14, who died in Jamestown, Virginia over the winter of The remains (a skull & tibia) were found in a cellar with dog & horse bones Marks on her skull indicate that flesh was thoroughly removed—the first scientific evidence of survival cannibalism from this period