1.1 Defining Archaeology and Its Scope

Archaeology uncovers human history through physical evidence. By examining artifacts, features, and ecofacts, archaeologists piece together past societies, behaviors, and cultural changes. This fascinating field brings ancient stories to life.

Unlike history's focus on written records, archaeology digs deeper. It reveals daily lives and material culture, especially for societies without writing. Archaeology's subfields explore diverse aspects of human existence, from prehistoric times to underwater mysteries.

Defining Archaeology and Its Scope

Focus of archaeology

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• Archaeology studies human history and prehistory through excavation, analysis, and interpretation of material remains
  • Reconstructs past human societies, behaviors, and cultural changes by examining physical evidence left behind
  • Material remains encompass artifacts (tools, pottery, jewelry), features (hearths, buildings, burials), and ecofacts (animal bones, plant remains, soil samples)

Types of archaeological evidence

• Archaeologists use diverse evidence to reconstruct past human societies and behaviors
  • Artifacts provide insights into human activities, technology, and cultural practices (tools, pottery, jewelry, clothing)
  • Features indicate non-portable evidence of human activities (hearths, buildings, burials, trash pits)
  • Ecofacts offer information about past human interactions with the environment (animal bones, plant remains, soil samples)
  • Spatial relationships between artifacts, features, and ecofacts reveal patterns of human behavior and site organization
  • Stratigraphy, the layering of archaeological deposits over time, helps establish chronology and site formation processes
  • Dating techniques determine the age of archaeological materials (radiocarbon dating, dendrochronology, seriation)
  • Historical documents and oral histories, when available, provide additional context for interpreting archaeological evidence

Archaeology vs related disciplines

• Archaeology, a subfield of anthropology, focuses specifically on studying human history and prehistory through material remains
  • Anthropology encompasses the broader study of human societies and cultures (cultural, linguistic, physical anthropology, and archaeology)
• History studies the human past primarily through written records and documents
  • Archaeology supplements historical research by providing material evidence, especially for periods or societies with limited or no written records
  • Archaeology offers insights into daily lives and material culture, while history provides context through written sources
• Archaeology and history collaborate to provide a comprehensive understanding of the human past

Subfields in archaeology

• Prehistoric archaeology studies human societies before the invention of writing, relying heavily on material remains analysis
• Historical archaeology investigates societies with written records, combining material remains study with historical document analysis
• Underwater archaeology focuses on submerged sites and shipwrecks, requiring specialized excavation and preservation techniques
• Environmental archaeology examines relationships between past human societies and their environments
• Ethnoarchaeology studies contemporary societies to gain insights into the archaeological record
• Experimental archaeology tests hypotheses about past human behaviors through controlled experiments and recreations of ancient technologies and practices