The study of archaeology today mixes various theoretical approaches and outlooks, many of which grew out of debates that took place during the second half of the twentieth century (from the 10950s). Before then many explanations of change were based on the hypothesis of diffusion and migration which is culture history. It was then in 1950s that then archaeologists became dissatisfied with these explanations which did clearly elaborate on how these changed, therefore to understand prehistoric societies new ways of thinking were formed. This then led to the arise of more archeological frameworks; post processual archaeology being one of them.
Post processual archaeology which is also known as interpretive archaeology is a movement in archaeological
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Post-processualists also criticized previous archaeological work for overemphasizing materialist interpretations of the past and being ethically and politically irresponsible. It began in the United Kingdom where it was led by Ian Hodder who was influenced by historian R.G Collingwood. Hodder explains the six key components of post processual archaeology in his book theory and practice in archaeology being; situational expediency, materialism versus idealism, anthropology versus history, the relationship between subject and object, absolute dichotomy between societies and individuals, separation of system and structure. Hodder said the approach developed with a group of students in Cambridge University which was a reaction to the then dominant processual archaeology which viewed culture as an adaptive process and believed archaeology could elaborate more on migrated theories and perspectives. There are also other archaeologists who helped develop this
To identify the specific type, functions and time period of the artifacts, various archaeology books, reports, and journal were referred. The interpretation was then conducted by dividing the artifacts into different area on the map and investigating their relationships.
In conclusion, Pompeii still has unexcavated areas which modern day experts are debating to keep not excavate anymore, and instead leave it for future archaeologists with more advanced technologies than current times. Since the introduction of archaeology in Pompeii in the 19th and 20th century, the city that was uncovered and full of mysteries is now coming back to
Examining excavated artifacts can tell researchers a lot about the people who left them behind. The artifacts can hint at characteristics such as how people lived, what time period they were from, what they ate, and how their families were structured. The identification of the three bags of artifacts was completed by utilizing artifacts that helped to infer the time period it was from.
Marcoux’s professional background in archaeology provided him with new vocabulary that the layperson is unfamiliar with. Although this study is obviously geared toward academic and other professionals, is is advisable explain terms and concepts that apply specifically to southeastern archaeology. Basic archaeological terms like wares, temper, and even the research theory he approached were explained. However, he did not explain exactly why he chose a historical particularist approach, he simply justified his perspective with out explaining why other theories would not have been acceptable. Readers with archaeological theory background would note that a number of different theories would also fit this study, depending on how one would want to look at the data. Disputing other theories, or at minimum acknowledging there are other theories, would have strengthened his
Whilst there have been major criticisms of the Systems Theory, it is still occasionally applied to modern day archaeology to describe the components of culture-systems.
The most advanced technology today is satellites. They help us uncover history and track weather.
While digging in the far reaches of the African outback, now know as the western part of Kenya, archaeologist Bozo excavated a site that revolutionized the thoughts of the scientific world. At this site they found many interesting artifacts and paintings that included proof of an early civilization. At this time scientists are calling this civilization “Pontu” after one of the paintings suggested that a pontoon was used for transportation across Lake Victoria, one of the adjacent lakes.
This paper examines a National Geographic news article pertaining to the history of First Americans called, “On way to New World, First Americans Made a-10,000 Year Pit Stop”. The First Americans may have stayed on the Bering Land Bridge after separating from Siberia, which would explain a few things about the genetic variances between the two groups. Why do researches believe first Americans lived on the Bering Land Bridge? Are the reasons to believe in this justified? This paper attempts to answer such questions.
The Mosfell project has set goals which it would like to accomplish. The main goal of Mosfell is to find the prehistoric and historic artifacts of this region. They are seeking a more in-depth understanding of how this area evolved from its earliest form. The archaeologists involved have very definite goals which are achievable in the long term. The data they have found is presented in a journal type documentation in which they document each individual excavation year. The only details they provide about the excavat...
Discussions in the 1970’s and 1980’s within both sides of the debate indicate population change, behavior change and natural processes to be the large determining factors (Attenbrow, 2004). Many archaeologists accepted there was a continuing increase over time in the number of archaeological sites established and used, as well as in the number of artefacts accumulated in individual sites, particularly in the past 5000 years (eg. Johnson 1979:39; Bowdler1981; Morwood 1984:371, 1986, 1987; Ross 1984, 1985:87; Beaton 1985: 16-18; Fletcher-Jones 1985: 282, 286; Lourandos 1985a: 393-411, 1985b: 38; White and Habgood 1985; Hiscock 1986) (Attenbrow, 2004). Population change refers to the changes in number of people or size of the population, behavioural changes referring to changes to activities such as tool manufacturing, subsistence practices as well as the use of space within a site (Attenbrow, 2004). Whilst natural processes include geomorphological and biological process that may have affected the archaeological record (At...
The Old Stone Age (Paleolithic Age) is also the step forward in technology and religion. The people of this time discovered how to contro...
10.) Archaeology - is the study of the remains of human behaviour in the past. It usually involves excavating sites where such remains including artifacts and ecofacts, can be found.
According to The Society for American Archaeology, the definition of Archaeology is, “to obtain a chronology of the past, a sequence of events and dates that, in a sense, is a backward extension of history.” The study of ancient civilizations and archaeology is rather ambiguous due to the primitive nature of the time period. With little imagery and even less textual evidence, professionals in the field must work diligently when studying their subjects. Naturally, archaeologists cannot see or communicate with those whom they are studying, so they must be extraordinarily meticulous when analyzing past cultures. This relates to all aspects of the ancient world including; foods, raw materials, artifacts, agriculture, art work and pottery. All of these elements can collectively provide new and innovative information to curious archaeologists who may wish to gain a better understanding of those who came before us. This information is equally beneficial for both historians and archaeologists who plan to compare the histories of societies from all around the world. In the world of archaeology, archaeologists strive to better explain human behavior by analyzing our past. Therefore, the study of archaeology is a key element in understanding a time before our own.
Postmodernism, on the other hand, aspires to reflect the critical. Critical knowledge is a process, rather than product. Absolute knowledge is unattainable, conditional, and provisional at best. Any unequivocal sense of the real is rendered superfluous. Truth, therefore, remains elusive, relativistic, partial, and always incomplete; it cannot be learned in totality. "Truth itself is a contingent affair and assumes a different shape in the light of differing local urgencies and convictions associated with them" (Fish 207). Critical knowledge has no choice but to exercise complicity with the cultural historical context in which it is hopelessly mired. As Lee Patterson states, "Even scholars who are dealing with chronologically and geographically distant materials are in fact examining a cultural matrix within which they themselves stand, and the understandings at which they arrive are influenced not simply by contemporary interests but by the shaping past that they are engaged in recovering" (259).
Archaeologists are scattered across the gamut. Considering knowledge of human past is valuable to numerous academic disciplines. Varieties of archaeological application include: cultural resource management, heritage conservation, historic preservation,