Archaeology What is Archaeology One of 4 subfields

Archaeology

What is Archaeology? � One of 4 sub-fields Anthropology � Study of ancient cultures through material remains � Artifacts � Aims to explain origins & development of human culture � “Speak to the earth and it shall teach thee”

Why is Archaeology Important? � “History is to society as memory is to the individual. ” � Importance: �Provides a means to learn about our past ○ True for cultures with and without any written history �“History will be kind to me because I intend to write it” ~Winston Churchill

CAN YOU DETERMINE WHERE THE FOLLOWING ARTIFACTS COME FROM?

WHAT IS IT?

How Archaeologists Conduct Research � 1) Survey Site � 2) Excavation � Step 1: Remove top soil � Step 2: Site plan � Step 3: Study artifacts

Dating Methods: Absolute vs. Relative

Relative Dating: Determining the Order of Events � Law of Horizontality � Layers form horizontally � Law of Superposition � Oldest on bottom; Youngest on top � Law of Association � Objects in same layer = same age

Absolute Dating � Dendrochronology � Carbon 14 � Potassium-argon � Thermoluminescence

The Search for Richard III: The Archaeology Dig

Real vs. Media Archaeology

Questions to Consider � What are some of the major misconceptions with the portrayal of archaeologists? � Why do you think that the media glorifies archaeology? � Is it possible to consider “real” or “media” archaeology more valuable than the other?

Lost Ark of the Covenant

Ethiopia, home of the Ark?

Sankara Stones

Shiva Lingam Stone

The Holy Grail

The Crystal Skulls