Name: Saira Gulzar
Submitted to: Professor Dr. Muhammad Zahir
Topic: Introduction to Archaeology
What is Archaeology?
"Archaeology is the science whose business is to recover, classify, and interpret the material
remains of past human life and activities."
-Sir Mortimer Wheeler
"Archaeology is the study of the past through the material remains left by human activity."
-Gordon Childe
"Archaeology is anthropology or it is nothing."
Lewis Binford
Archaeology is the scientific study of past human societies through the analysis of their
material remains. These remains include artefacts (e.g., tools, pottery, jewellery), features (e.g.,
buildings, hearths, burials), and ecofacts (e.g., animal bones, plant remains). By examining
these physical traces, archaeologists reconstruct the lives, behaviours, and cultures of people
who lived in the past.
The primary goal of archaeology is to understand how humans lived, adapted, and
evolved over time, from the earliest stone tools millions of years ago to the complex
civilizations of recent history.
It helps us learn from our ancestors, preserve cultural heritage, and address modern
challenges by understanding long-term human-environment interactions. It bridges the gap
between the past and present, offering insights into what it means to be human.
A Brief History of Archaeology:
Archaeology’s roots can be traced back to antiquarianism, a practice popular in
Renaissance Europe. Antiquarians were collectors and scholars who were fascinated by ancient
artefacts and monuments. They often focused on classical civilizations like Greece and Rome,
collecting artefacts and documenting ancient sites.
For example, the excavation of Pompeii and Herculaneum in the 18th century.
The 19th century marked the transition from antiquarianism to scientific archaeology. This
period also saw the rise of cultural-historical archaeology, which focused on classifying
artefacts and cultures into timelines.
Today, archaeology is a multidisciplinary and technology-driven field. Advanced techniques
like LiDAR, GIS mapping, and DNA analysis have transformed how archaeologists study the
past. There is a growing emphasis on public archaeology, which involves communities in the
preservation and interpretation of cultural heritage.
Herculaneum: A Roman city in Italy
Pompeii: A Roman city in Italy
Types of Archaeology:
Archaeology is an interdisciplinary field. Most archaeologists focus on a particular
region of the world or a specific topic of study. Specialization allows an archaeologist to
develop expertise on a particular issue. Some archaeologists study human remains
(bioarchaeology), animals (zooarchaeology), ancient plants (paleoethnobotany), stone tools
(lithics), etc. Some archaeologists specialize in technologies that find, map, or analyze
archaeological sites. Underwater archaeologists study the remains of human activity that lie
beneath the surface of water or on coasts. Cultural Resource Management, known as "CRM,"
refers to the work archaeologists do to follow federal and state laws.
What is an Archaeological Site?
Archaeological site is any place where there are physical remains of past human
activities. There are many types of archaeological sites. Prehistoric archaeological sites are
those without a written record. They may include villages or cities, stone quarries, rock art,
ancient cemeteries, campsites, and megalithic stone monuments. A site can be as small as a
pile of chipped stone tools left by a prehistoric hunter. Or a site can be as large and complex as
the prehistoric settlements of Chaco Canyon in the American Southwest.
Following are the names of most famous archaeological sites:
1. Great Wall of China
2. Acropolis of Athens
3. Stonehenge
4. Egyptian Pyramids
5. Great Sphinx of Giza
