Chapters 1-4 APY108

Meet Some Real Archaeologists

Learning Objectives

• Understand the role and identity of archaeologists.

  • Recognition of how archaeologists contribute to our understanding of human history by uncovering artifacts that tell stories about past societies.

• Explore the controversies surrounding the study of the past and how different perspectives shape archaeological interpretation.

  • Examination of conflicts between traditional archaeological narratives and contemporary ethical considerations.

• Connect the rise of archaeology to significant discoveries that revealed humanity's lengthy history.

  • Case studies highlighting how major archaeological finds have reshaped our understanding of history.

• Recognize the importance of antiquarians in the development of archaeology as a discipline.

  • Understanding how early enthusiasts laid the groundwork for modern methodologies and attitudes toward preservation.

• Identify major trends in archaeology over the last century, including technological advancements and shifts in theoretical frameworks.

  • Discussion on how new technologies, such as DNA analysis and digital imaging, have impacted archaeological research and interpretations.

Understanding Archaeology

What is an Archaeologist?

• Contrary to popular media portrayals like those in Indiana Jones and Lara Croft, real archaeologists are not treasure hunters but scientists dedicated to studying past human societies through material remains.

• They consistently employ various tools, such as notebooks for documentation, measuring tapes for precise mapping, and high-tech instruments like ground-penetrating radar, which can reveal hidden structures beneath the ground without excavation.

• The excitement of archaeology arises predominately from hands-on fieldwork that yields crucial insights into the lifestyles, traditions, and sociopolitical structures of ancient civilizations.

• Archaeologists meticulously extract and analyze data from ancient artifacts and ecofacts, reconstructing complex narratives about past societies through methods including carbon dating, stratigraphy, and comparative analyses across cultures.

The History of Archaeology

Early Roots

• Nabonidus (538 BC) is frequently recognized as the first archaeologist due to his systematic inquiries into the past, exploring ancient sites, conducting excavations, and documenting findings in inscriptions that emphasize his findings on the history of Mesopotamia.

• The Renaissance marked a pivotal shift in historical understanding, moving from reliance on myth and tradition to an appreciation for physical evidence and material culture, positively setting the stage for archaeological methods as a recognized field of study.

Antiquarians to Archaeologists

• The field evolved from the antiquarian pursuits of individuals like Giovanni Battista Belzoni, who excavated with little methodology and viewed archaeological sites predominantly as curiosities, to the modern practices of professional archaeologists who prioritize rigorous documentation and ethical practices.

• Jens Jacob Asmussen Worsaae (1821-1885) is acknowledged as the first professional archaeologist, promoting the importance of contextualizing artifacts within their stratigraphic layers, which enhanced the understanding of temporal relationships between artifacts and archaeological features.

Archaeological Perspectives

Controversies in Archaeology

• The traditional approach often overemphasized classical antiquity (e.g., Egyptian, Roman) while neglecting equally valuable archaeological narratives from non-Western cultures, leading to discussions about the representation of various cultures and the need for modern ethical considerations regarding colonial histories.

• Current challenges exist in addressing Western biases in interpreting Native American archaeological remains, prompting a broader dialogue about inclusivity, cultural sensitivity, and the ethical responsibilities of modern archaeologists.

Archaeology’s Evolution Over the Last Century

• The 1900s witnessed a substantial growth in anthropological perspectives that began to influence archaeological methodologies, emphasizing the cultural context over mere artifact recovery and signaling a movement toward post-processualist approaches that consider multiple interpretations of the past.

• Interdisciplinary methods are now standard, integrating insights from neighboring scientific fields, such as geology for geological context and environmental science to understand past climates, significantly enhancing archaeological interpretations.

Scientific and Ethical Dimensions of Archaeology

Importance of Ethics

• Understanding the political implications of archaeology is crucial; archaeological findings can impact contemporary societal narratives, prompting a responsibility to consider indigenous perspectives, community engagement, and historical contexts.

• Ethical considerations shape research practices by advocating for collaborative relationships with descendant communities, influencing methodologies, and dictating how archaeological data is interpreted, all underscoring the need for responsible stewardship of cultural heritage.

Surveying and Excavation Techniques

Surveying

• Purpose: Surveys aim to gather comprehensive data on human activities, settlement patterns, land use, and landscape evolution without compromising site integrity or disturbing archaeological contexts.

• Techniques commonly used in surveying include gunshoe surveys (walking in a systematic pattern across a landscape), systematic mapping based on geographic information systems (GIS), and statistical sampling to decide excavation areas based on artifact density and thematic significance regarding cultural practices or resource usage.

Excavation

• Fundamental principles include: documenting the provenience (exact location where an artifact was found) of artifacts, limiting excavation units to those necessary to minimize disturbance to the site, and following systematic horizontal and vertical excavation methods to maintain stratigraphic integrity.

• Context plays a critical role in interpreting artifacts, as it provides essential insights into their use, significance, and the life of the societies that created them, allowing archaeologists to reconstruct past lifeways accurately.

• Required tools include trowels, measuring devices, and notebooks for precise recording of observations and findings during both surveying and excavations.

Excavation Strategies

Test Excavations

• Test excavations serve as an initial assessment to determine a site’s research potential; small units are excavated systematically to ascertain artifact preservation and contextual relationships, often guiding future research directions.

• Strategies may evolve during fieldwork based on emerging findings, creating opportunities to shift focus from vertical excavation (understanding stratigraphy) to more expansive horizontal approaches that explore spatial relationships and site layout.

Preservation Factors

• Various environmental conditions, such as anaerobic environments (lack of oxygen) that can preserve organic materials effectively and freeze-dry conditions in colder regions that halt decomposition, significantly influence the preservation of artifacts and ecofacts, altering how archaeologists interpret their findings.

• Disturbance factors, such as animal activity, erosion, or subsequent human constructions, complicate interpretations and require careful analysis during excavations and post-excavation processing to understand the original archaeological context accurately.

Case Studies

Gatecliff Shelter

• The Gatecliff Shelter serves as a prominent example of a deep archaeological site where a variety of artifact preservation techniques were employed, offering insights into ancient culture.

• Researchers utilized diverse excavation techniques to recover a wealth of data about ancient lifestyles, providing detailed evidence of subsistence strategies, material culture, ceremonial practices, and social organization across different time periods, thus enriching the archaeological record of North America.

Mission Santa Catalina

• This case demonstrates the application of multiple survey and remote sensing techniques that led to the discovery of a historically significant mission site.

• Techniques employed included magnetometry (measuring magnetic fields to locate buried structures), resistivity surveys (assessing soil moisture content), and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to locate and understand buried features, offering invaluable insights into colonial interactions and indigenous responses, the organization of mission spaces, and changes over time in the cultural landscape.

Conclusion

• Successful archaeological practice hinges on context, meticulous recording, and ethical excavation practices that ensure the integrity of knowledge derived from archaeological sites, influencing modern understandings of societal developments.

• The continuous advancement of methods and ethical considerations is key to the evolving nature of archaeology, reflecting broader contemporary issues such as heritage management, cultural preservation, public education, and social justice, and contributing significantly to future research endeavors aiming to enrich our understanding of human history and cultural diversity.