Investigating Ancient History: The Treatment and Display of Human Remains

A collection of 100 vocabulary flashcards to aid in the review of concepts related to ancient history, archaeology, and the treatment of human remains.

Ancient History

Refers to societies that used writing but no longer exist, roughly from 5000 BCE to 416 CE.

Archaeology

A discipline that examines physical remains of the past to reconstruct history.

Artifacts

Physical remains made or altered by humans, used in archaeological study.

History

The study of past events based primarily on written records.

Prehistory

The period before written records were kept.

DNA Analysis

A scientific technique applied in modern archaeology to discover new information.

Historians

Scholars who primarily rely on written records to investigate the past.

Ethical Challenges

Difficulties faced in archaeology regarding the treatment of human remains.

Reconstruction of Civilisations

The process of understanding past societies and cultures through various sources.

Codes of Ethics

Guidelines ensuring proper treatment and respect for human remains.

Relative Dating

A method used to determine the age of an artifact by comparing it to other known ages.

Absolute Dating

A technique that uses calendar years to determine the age of artifacts.

Human Remains

The bodies or parts of bodies of once living people used in archaeological study.

Otzi

A famous preserved human body discovered in the Alps, dated to around 3300 BCE.

Peat Bogs

Natural formations where human remains can be preserved, such as with the Tollund Man.

Mummification

A preservation technique often associated with ancient Egyptian practices.

Cultural Sensitivity

Respecting and acknowledging different cultural perspectives in archaeological practices.

Historical Sources

Materials used to study the past, including written, archaeological, and organic sources.

Primary Source

A document or artifact created during the time being studied.

Secondary Source

A document or recording that relates or discusses information originally presented elsewhere.

TOMCAP

An acronym for analyzing historical sources: Type, Origin, Motive, Context, Audience, Purpose.

Natural Remains

Organic materials that survive from the past, such as human and animal remains.

Civilisation

A complex society characterized by the presence of cities, social stratification, and cultural practices.

Ethnographic Perspective

Approaching archaeological findings with an understanding of cultural practices.

Contextual Analysis

Interpreting artifacts and remains within the environment they were found.

In situ

Refers to an archaeological find that remains in its original place of deposition.

Repatriation

The return of cultural artifacts or remains to their place of origin or descendants.

Sloe Berry

A fruit believed to indicate the season during which Otzi lived, suggesting Autumn.

Skewed View

An unbalanced perspective often resulting from the dominance of certain social groups in historical records.

Civilisations

Advanced societies that share cultural, economic, and social structures.

Analysis

The process of examining and interpreting data or artifacts to draw conclusions.

Cultural Heritage

The legacy of physical artifacts and intangible attributes of a group or society.

Interpretation

The act of explaining the meaning of historical sources or archaeological finds.

Archaeological Dig

A site where excavation is conducted to uncover artifacts and remains.

Human Exhumation

The act of digging up human remains, often raising ethical considerations.

Construction of Knowledge

The process of how knowledge about the past is generated and understood.

Artistic Depiction

Representations of historical figures or events, often in art forms.

Historiographical Analysis

The evaluation of how history is written and interpreted over time.

Human Evolution

The biological and cultural development of humans over time.

Fieldwork

Conducting research or excavation in a physical location outside a laboratory.

Crucial Evidence

Important information or artifacts that illuminate aspects of the past.

Post-Mortem Analysis

Examination conducted on remains after death to gain insights into individual lives.

Cultural Exchange

The sharing of ideas and practices between different cultures.

Societal Structure

The organization of a society into different levels or classes.

Functional Analysis

Examining the purpose or use of artifacts within a given context.

Biased Interpretation

An analysis influenced by personal perspectives, potentially distorting the truth.

Emerging Technologies

New scientific methods and tools that advance archaeological research.

Preservation Techniques

Methods used to maintain the integrity of archaeological finds.

Forensic Science

Application of scientific principles to criminal investigations, including archaeological contexts.

Carbon Dating

A method used to determine the age of organic materials based on carbon isotopes.

Comparative Analysis

Examining similarities and differences between artifacts to draw conclusions.

Anthropological Context

Understanding remains and artifacts within the framework of human evolution.

Cultural Relativity

The practice of assessing a culture based on its own standards rather than external criteria.

Historical Narratives

Stories or accounts constructed to represent historical events.

Legacy

Something handed down from the past, often referring to cultural or historical impacts.

Material Culture

Physical objects that people create and use to represent their cultural identity.

Technological Advancements

Improvements and innovations in technology that facilitate research.

Interdisciplinary Approaches

Using multiple academic fields to study historical and archaeological topics.

Cultural Interpretation

Understanding artifacts and practices in the context of the culture from which they originated.

Strategic Excavation

Planning and executing digs with a specific purpose or hypothesis in mind.

Burial Practices

Cultural rituals and methods relating to the interment of the dead.

Human Skeletal Analysis

The study of human bones to understand demographics, health, and lifestyles.

Scientific Method

A systematic process for experimentation and analysis in research.

Cultural Memory

The shared pool of information within a culture about its past.

Iconographic Analysis

Study of symbols, motifs, and meanings in historical art and artifacts.

Societal Values

The principles and beliefs that guide behavior in a particular society.

Geographical Context

The physical location of archaeological finds and how it relates to its environment.

Archaeological Record

The body of archaeological evidence that has been documented through excavations.

Heritage Preservation

The effort to protect and maintain cultural and historical sites and artifacts.

Curation

The management and organization of collections, especially in museums.

Material Legacy

The remnants and objects left by past cultures that inform current understanding.

Conservation Techniques

Methods used to protect and preserve artifacts for future generations.

Interpreting Artifacts

The analytical process of assigning meaning to physical pieces from the past.

Archaeological Survey

A systematic examination of a landscape to find sites and artifacts.

Historical Context

The circumstances and conditions surrounding a particular historical event or source.

Epidemiological Insights

Understanding the health and disease patterns of past populations from remains.

Disciplinary Ethics

The morals guiding different academic fields, especially concerning human subjects.

Archaeological Hypothesis

A proposed explanation for archaeological findings that can be tested.

Study of Civilizations

The examination of advanced societies, their cultures, and historical impacts.

Theory of Displacement

Understanding the movement of peoples and cultures through migration patterns.

Dendrochronology

The study of tree rings to date environmental events.

Typology

The classification of artifacts based on their characteristics or features.

Archaeological Methodology

The systematic approaches used in archaeological research.

Infrastructure

The underlying foundation and structures that support a civilization.

Artifact Preservation

The process of maintaining the condition of historical artifacts.

Reconstruction Methods

Techniques used to recreate aspects of past cultures or features based on evidence.

Excavation Techniques

Methods employed in digging and uncovering archaeological sites.

Chronological Frameworks

Systems of organizing historical events by their time of occurrence.