Archaeology is the study of humanity's material remains: its buildings, art, everyday objects, trash and even bodies. Archaeologists are scholars who study every facet of their scholarly realm. They're explorers who map out and chart excavation sites. They're scientists who document and verify their finds. And they're historians who flesh out the past.
Because archaeology is such a massive field, it's usually broken into periods, like Prehistoric or Industrial archaeology, or into geographical areas, like Classical archaeology. Sometimes archaeology's subfields are practically independent disciplines. For instance, forensic archaeologists work with law enforcement officers to locate evidence or study potential gravesites. Underwater archaeologists study shipwrecks or other watery remains of human industry and must be proficient divers. Archaeologists are sometimes confused with paleontologists, scientists who study the remains of prehistoric plants and animals, but not humans or our hominid ancestors.
What is archaeology?
Outline the main sub-fields of archaeology.
Curriculum:
1. The Investigation of Ancient Sites and Sources
Students investigate the nature of ancient sites and sources, including the contribution of archaeology and science to our understanding of the past. The Historical concepts and skills content is to be integrated as appropriate.
Content
Students investigate:
● the changing nature of archaeological excavation and recording techniques
● the contribution of archaeological and scientific techniques to the discovery and investigation of the ancient past, including site surveys using radar, excavation, dating methods, forensic examination and DNA analysis (ACHAH018)
● problems associated with reconstructing the past through archaeological evidence, for example in relation to understanding ancient customs and religious beliefs
● the contribution and limitations of ancient texts, inscriptions and iconography to an understanding of the ancient past
Examples that could be used to illustrate aspects of the content include: Theban Mapping Project;
marine archaeology; Dead Sea Scrolls; selected excerpts from Herodotus or Thucydides; Petra; the
Nazca Lines – Peru; Lord of Sipan; Plain of Jars.1. The Investigation of Ancient Sites and Sources
Content Focus
Students investigate the nature of ancient sites and sources, including the contribution of archaeology and science to our understanding of the past. The Historical concepts and skills content is to be integrated as appropriate.
Students investigate:
● the changing nature of archaeological excavation and recording techniques
● the contribution of archaeological and scientific techniques to the discovery and investigation of the ancient past, including site surveys using radar, excavation, dating methods, forensic examination and DNA analysis (ACHAH018)
● problems associated with reconstructing the past through archaeological evidence, for example in relation to understanding ancient customs and religious beliefs. Ownership of the past.
● the contribution and limitations of ancient texts, inscriptions and iconography to an understanding of the ancient past
Problems with evidence?