Arch EXAM1 PART1

The Document Myth

The Document Myth

Everything of importance in (recent) history was written down

What we DON'T know about history

The How and Whys of historical developments

Ultimate Goal

1. To learn about ourselves by figuring out how we got to whe

SITES

places of human occupation or activity in the past

ARTIFACTS

are material objects

FEATURES

non-portable evidence of human activity

What kind of field is Archaeology?

Interdisciplinary

Research

The first step of the archaeological process (not phas

Why is Research important?

You must understand the people in order to make sense of what you are going to find

Survey

The first phase of the archaeological process

What happens during Survey?

Locate the Site

Why are STPs (shovel testing) done?

Record the presence/absence of artifacts

How is a Walk Over survey done?

Walking over and looking for artifacts on the surface

Testing

The second phase of the archaeological process

What happens during testing?

Dig a "sample" to find who/where/when 2. you do small excavations 3. you use regular grid pattern

What are the goals of testing

Be able to Date the site

Excavation (block excavation)

The third phase of archaeology

What is the goal of excavation?

To answer specific research questions (NOT to go on a treasure hunt)

What is the purpose of excavation?

To reveal as much as much about the site and the lives of its occupants as possible

Analysis and Curation

The fourth step of archaeology

1 day in the field is how many days in the lab?

5

What should an analysis do?

Address your research questions

Publication

The fifth stage of archaeology

What should your publication be?

available for public benefit (science is a method and not perfect)

What is an archaeological rule of ethics?

You are responsible for recording and saving as much information as possible