1. ARCHAEOLOGY Social Studies 9

2. Archaeology There are three ways we learn about the past. The first two are: Oral History Written Records

3. Archaeology The third way we learn about the past is archaeology.

4. Archaeology When oral and written history are not available, archaeology becomes very important. Archaeologists study material remains left behind by other cultures (skeletons, tools, weapons, animal bones, fragments of pottery, jewelry, and clothing, ruins of buildings, etc.).

5. What is Archaeology? Archaeology is the study of the remains of the past. It has been called the “science of rubbish.”

6. Terms to Learn Artifacts: An artifact is an object with features that have been made by human activities. Examples include tools, weapons, ornaments, homes, etc. Ecofacts: Ecofacts are remains that were not made by humans, but still provide some information that helps us to understand people of the past. Examples include fossils and remains of plants and animals.

7. Terms to Learn Fossils: Fossils are remains or traces of organisms that lived prior to historic times. It is generally accepted that life has existed on our earth for more than two billion years, and that fossils are important clues to understanding its history and development.

8. How Are Fossils Formed? FREEZING: The best-preserved fossils are those of organisms that have been frozen quickly. DRYING: Some organisms in the desert regions crawled into caves and died. ORIGINAL PRESERVATION: Bones, teeth, shells, and wood can be buried and remain unchanged for millions of years. PETRIFACTION: It literally means “turn to stone.”

9. How Are Fossils Formed? CARBONIZATION: It occurs when a fossil such as a leaf is squeezed, generally on a bedding plane, and the fluids are removed, leaving a thin carbon film. CASTS AND MOLDS: When an organism, buried in sediment, dissolves and leaves an imprint it is called a mold. When the mold is filled, it creates an exact duplicate. This is a cast.

10. Inferences and Theories Archaeologists try to make inferences about how people lived based on what they find. Inferences: Inferences are conclusions archaeologists make. Theory: A system of ideas to explain how a certain situation or event might have come about.

11. Archaeology