Archaeology
Bringing the Past to Life
What is Archaeology?
Archaeology is the study of human history,
using material remains to discover
information about the people and events of
the past.
Archaeologists use artifacts - the objects and
materials people in the past made and used -
and information obtained at sites - the places
that people once lived - as evidence to draw
conclusions about how people once lived.
Building Evidence of the Past
Define your Purpose - what are you investigating? – write in the
form of a question
Make a Hypothesis – make an educated guess based on what
you know
What area of the world are you investigating?
What kind of people were likely to have lived there?
What information has already been uncovered?
Uncover the Past – dig your site very carefully, what can the
placement of artifacts and the dirt around artifacts tell you about
the site?
Check your Hypothesis – does the information you uncovered fit
with what you thought? Fit with what other scientists think? Is
this new information?
Dig Site
Bones & Tools &
Artifacts Measurement
Stratigraphy
Go to Virtual Dig
Stratigraphy
Stratigraphy – the study
of dirt and rocks as
layers in the earth
Older objects are found
on the bottom layers,
newer objects are found
at the top
Objects that are found in
the same layer probably
come from the same time
period
Back to Dig Site
Artifacts & Bones
An artifact is any human made object
Tools, clothes, and dwellings are
all artifacts that can give us a
glimpse into the ancient world
Writing is a special kind of artifact
Primary Sources
Bones can provide a great deal of
information
Bones of humans can tell how old
a person was or how they died
Bones of animals can tell what
people of the time ate
Back to Dig Site
Primary Sources
In certain dig sites you can find
written material
Writing was invented 5-6,000 years
ago
When writing is present you have a
first hand account of what it was like
to live at the time!
Primary sources include diaries,
letters, official documents, pictures,
portraits, maps, notes, books…
anything with writing on it.
Tools & Measurement
The length and weight of objects can
provide information about how people
lived
How large were the houses?
How close did people live to water?
How much did tools weigh?
Graphs and plots of artifacts can help
scientists organize information
Where did people live in relation to
each other?
How many tools were found?
Back to Dig Site
Dig Site
Virtual Dig
The Dig Site:
Musket
Balls
Bones
Miniature
portrait
Textiles
Letter
All of the artifacts listed have been
found in the same layer of dirt.
Conclusion
Bones
Found:
Rabbit Bones
One complete
skeleton
Ash
Textiles
Scrap of homespun
fabric
Dated: 1700 - 1800
Musket Balls
Found
Musket Balls
Various sizes
Dated: 1760-1780
Miniature Portrait
Found
Minature Portrait
Inscription on back reads
“Mary 1754”
Letter
Found
Letter
well preserved
Click on the letter to read it!
Head Quarters, New York, August 3rd 1776.
Parole Uxbridge. Countersign Virginia
That the Troops may have an opportunity of attending public
worship, as well as take some rest after the great fatigue
they have gone through; The General in future excuses
them from fatigue duty on Sundays (except at the Ship
Yards, or special occasions) until further orders. The General
is sorry to be informed that the foolish, and wicked practice,
of profane cursing and swearing (a Vice heretofore little
known in an American Army) is growing into fashion; he
hopes the officers will, by example, as well as influence,
endeavour to check it, and that both they, and the men will
reflect, that we can have little hopes of the blessing of
Heaven on our Arms, if we insult it by our impiety, and folly;
added to this, it is a vice so mean and low, without any
temptation, that every man of sense, and character, detests
and despises it.
Clarkson and Chase under confinement for Desertion, and
reinlistment into the Artillery, from another Corps, to return
to Capt: Bauman's Company until Col. Ellmores Regiment,
wh. claims them, comes into camp.
Concluding Notes
Using the information that you gathered
from the dig and research information from
your textbook or the Internet, write a 5
paragraph letter to the journal Nature. The
first paragraph should include background
information about the dig site. The middle
paragraphs should include details about the
artifacts at the dig site. In the last
paragraph - draw a conclusion: Why were
these people once at this site?
Resources
Papers of George Washington
http://gwpapers.virginia.edu/documents/revol
ution/profanity_1.html
From the Diary of Captain Joseph
Bloomfield
http://www.iath.virginia.edu/seminar/unit1/te
xt/sdiary2.htm