Download - How do we uncover the past?
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How do we uncover the
past?
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Where does our information come from?Archaeological evidence
◦Remains of people & animals◦Artifacts (human-made objects)
Oral history (history that is passed on without being written down)
Primary documentsLegends (stories of humans with
basis in fact)Secondary sources
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Which professions contribute to the study of the past?Archaeologists: study
the remains of early civilizations & people
Paleontologists: study the remains of animals & plants (fossils)
Anthropologists: study the origins, development, social habits & culture of humans
Paleoanthropologists: study the fossils & remains of humans & their ancestors
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Which professions contribute to the study of the past?
Historians: gather information from a variety of sources to create a record of past events
Ethnologists: study people and culture; some historians develop theories about the past based on ethnological studies of similar groups/cultures.
Other scientists: historians and archaeologists often rely on experts in geography, computers, DNA, etc. to help them identify and analyze their finds.
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A LITTLE HISTORY TEACHER PROPAGANDA
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What tools do archaeologists use?Excavating tools:
trowel, shovels, brushes, dust pan, dental tools, buckets, sifter/screen, etc.
Measuring & surveying tools: tape measure, photo scales, optical line meters, etc.
Recording tools: camera, pencil, paper, etc.
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Preparing and Executing a Dig1. Assemble a dig team: field
director, supervisors, crew, other professionals (e.g. surveyor, photographer)
2. Remove top layers of soil: Look for stains (indicate remains of fire pit, wooden structure or midden) and artifacts
3. Carefully excavate findings4. Record findings: make field
notes, take photos, map location, bag and label
5. Analyze findings: 75% of archaeology is lab analysis of artifacts
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Dig PrecautionsArchaeology is destructive so great care must be taken at a dig:Remove soil carefully so
that all objects are found in place
Ensure no artifacts are missed
Don’t use tools in any way that would damage artifacts
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Underwater ArchaeologyUses same techniques,
but excavations are more challenging
Conventional dives can be no deeper than 35 metres & 4 hours long
Limited mobility, visibility & dexterity
Artifacts must be treated to avoid decomposition
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Types of ArtifactsOrganic Remains:
plants, animals, peopleInorganic Remains:
tools, pottery, etc.Organic artifacts are
best preserved in dry, hot areas (e.g. deserts), extremely cold regions (e.g. Arctic) & waterlogged conditions (e.g. bogs, seafloor)
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Study of ArtifactsOrganic & inorganic remains
can tell us how people used the materials around them & what food they ate
Study of these artifacts can also reveal what they were used for (e.g. weapons)
Human remains can tell us about life expectancy, common diseases, occupations, etc.
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Dating ArtifactsStratigraphy: studying the
layers at a site to determine age
Radiocarbon dating: measuring the level of radioisotope carbon 14 in organic remains to find age◦All living things absorb
carbon during their life◦At death, carbon is
released at a constant rate◦Rate of decay helps
calculate accurate age
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Your turn…Watch the following video.With a partner, pretend you are
paleoanthropologists working at a dig site where this discovery has been made.
Create a series of questions that you would ask about this find in order to learn as much as possible about it.
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The real find“Jane”, 14, who died in
Jamestown, Virginia over the winter of 1609-1610
The remains (a skull & tibia) were found in a cellar with dog & horse bones
Marks on her skull indicate that flesh was thoroughly removed—the first scientific evidence of survival cannibalism from this period