Discipline of Archaeology
Definition: Archaeology comes from the Greek words arkhaios
(ancient) and logos (study). It studies the culture and way of life of
ancient humans from 2 million years ago up to 12,000 years ago.
What it’s NOT: Archaeology is NOT about dinosaurs (that’s
paleontology).
Difference from History:
o Archaeology focuses on reconstructing past cultures (using
physical remains).
o History relies on written records to understand the past.
What Archaeologists Do
Reconstruct human settlements and explain how people lived (culture,
politics, economy, etc.).
Use physical evidence like tools, bones, and ruins to model ancient
ways of life.
Sub-disciplines of Archaeology
1. Paleoanthropology (Prehistoric Archaeology): Studies cultures
before writing existed.
2. Historical Archaeology: Focuses on cultures with written records.
3. Marine Archaeology: Studies underwater sites like shipwrecks and
submerged civilizations.
Archaeological Sites
Locations of human activity (e.g., homes, burial sites, temples).
Discovered by:
o Accidents, erosion, aerial photography, satellite imaging, maps,
or folklore.
Sources of Archaeological Evidence
1. Ecofacts: Natural items like seeds, pollen, and fossils.
o Fossils: Preserved bones or remains that reveal age, diet, or
cause of death.
2. Features: Human-made changes to the environment (e.g., buildings,
roads, farming fields).
3. Artifacts: Objects made or used by humans (tools, pottery, garbage).
Dating Techniques
1. Relative Dating: Determines the sequence of events (e.g., which is
older or younger).
o Stratigraphy: Studies layers of soil (older layers are deeper).
o Chemical Accumulation: Measures chemical buildup in objects
to estimate age.
2. Chronometric (Absolute) Dating: Assigns a specific number of
years.
o Radiocarbon Dating: Measures decay of carbon-14 in once-
living things (effective for 5,730-year cycles).
o Dendrochronology: Analyzes tree rings to date wooden
artifacts.
Cultural Periods in Prehistoric Archaeology
1. Stone Age: Humans used stone tools.
o Paleolithic (Old Stone Age): Simple stone tools; humans were
hunters and gatherers.
o Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age): Adaptation to forests; tools for
fishing and chopping wood.
o Neolithic (New Stone Age): Farming, domestication of
animals, pottery, and advanced tools.
2. Metal Age: Humans used metal tools.
o Copper Age: Early use of copper.
o Bronze Age: Tools made of bronze; trade began.
o Iron Age: Iron tools; empires and fortifications appeared.
Cultural Heritage
Definition: Our connection to the past through monuments, artifacts,
and traditions.
Types of Conservation:
o Conservation: Prevents decay.
o Preservation: Maintains in original condition.
o Restoration: Repairs to how it originally looked.
o Reconstruction: Rebuilds vanished sites.
Importance of Cultural Heritage Sites
1. Evidential Value: Provides physical evidence of past human life.
2. Historical Value: Links us to events and cultures of the past.
3. Aesthetic Value: Inspires through design and craftsmanship.
4. Communal Value: Connects people through shared memories and
identity.
