Archaeology Notes

Four Fields of American Anthropology

  • Biological/Physical Anthropology: Study of biological aspects of humans.
  • Ecological Anthropology: Examines interactions between humans and environments.
  • Archaeology: Focus on past human activities through material remains.
  • Cultural/Sociological Anthropology: Studies cultural variations and social structures.
  • Linguistics: Analyzes languages and their influence on culture.

Purpose and Methods of Archaeology

  • Archaeology aims to understand human history through material culture.
  • Methods include site identification, evaluation, excavation, and analysis.

Historical Context

  • First coined in Plato's Dialogues, meaning "beginnings" and "power".
  • Socrates emphasized telling stories that convey lessons relevant to the present.

Influential Texts in Archaeology

  • Dionysius of Halicarnassus: "Roman Archaeologia" discusses Romulus and Remus.
  • Flavius Josephus: Discusses Jewish history to the Roman Empire.

Archaeology and Politics

  • Example 1: Masada
    • Josephus describes the siege of Israelites at Masada, seen as martyrs in modern Israel.
    • Later interpretations questioned the biblical narrative; possible Roman identity of remains.
  • Example 2: King Arthur
    • Geoffrey of Monmouth’s "Historia Regum Britanniae" popularizes Arthur legends.
    • Excavations at Glastonbury Abbey link Arthur to the site but raised doubts about authenticity.

Archaeological Technique Development

  • William “Strata” Smith: Developed the geological map and the Principle of Faunal Succession.
  • Charles Lyell articulated the Law of Superposition:
    1. Bottom layers = older than top.
    2. Uniformitarianism: past processes resemble current ones.
    3. Index Fossil Concept: dating rock layers using known-age fossils.

Archaeological Process

  1. Identify Sites: Utilize aerial photos and old maps.
  2. Evaluate: Assess historical significance.
  3. Excavate: Systematic digging of selected sites.
  4. Analyze: Process collected data for insights.

Soil Analysis in Archaeology

  • Soil layers indicate historical activity, e.g., river silt, topsoil, artifacts.
  • Soil-chemical surveys reveal past living conditions, animal penning, and structures.

Modern Techniques

  • Flotation tanks separate artifacts from soil; recovery of seeds, bones, and small items.
  • Archaeological mapping systems consolidate findings into cohesive site maps.

Conclusion

  • The interplay of archaeology and politics shapes interpretations and the narrative of history, necessitating scientific methodologies to mitigate biases.