Title: Historical ContextDate: September 8, 2010 12:00 PMCategory: Tags:

In 1660, the world was thought to be approx 6000 years oldIn 2010, the world is thought to be 5 Billion years old

Natalie Munro, Assistant Prof of Anthropology, excavates the grave of a female shaman at Hilazon Tachtit Cave, Israel. The 11,500 year old grave contained the remained tortoises feasted on by humans during the burial ritual

Past Ideas of the Past-Past has more a and cosmological aspects: “Golden Age” or “Age of Ignorance”-Ruling elite often sought to emulate the “perfection” of past social orders-Antiquities often seen as rare curiosities

Medieval European View of the Past-Biblical Chronology: creation, flood, exodus-Creation recent & supernatural-Physical world in a state of decay (end of days)-History records only unique events, no change in culture or technology (only decay)

The Past in Middle Ages-Neolithic stone axes (thunderstones) sold to goldsmiths during the European Middle Ages for burnishing-“Thunderstones” thought to have fallen from heavens-Or made by elves & fairies

Biblical Concepts of Time-Archbishop James Ussher-1650 Annales of the World-World Created: Sunday, October 23rd, 4004 BC-World is 6000 years old

Expanding Scales of Time and Space-Isaac Newton 1642 - 1727-realization of astronomical distances-Earth part of a vast universe-Vast scales of space allowed acceptance of vast scales of time

The Renaissance View of the Past-Beginning of systematic emulation and collection of classical antiquity

The Renaissance & Pompeii-Italian nobility & church sponsored excavations-Focused on recovery of artistic objects

Early Excavations-essentially mining expeditions for artifacts

-no systematic recording of context

Art History-studies of Greco-Roman sculpture to find/define ideal standards of beauty-Part of enlightenment emphasis on rationalism and order-First discipline to study material culture

Catastrophism & Mosaic Creation-George Cuvier-1769 - 1832-Father of vertebrate paleontology-Earth’s stages were progressive but discontinuous -Catastrophic events purged the earth of previous life forms. Noah’s Flood?!?!?!?-Humans arose after the last catastrophe and their creation was divinely inspired as in genesis-Since humans and extinct species were temporally and divinely separate from one another, their remains could never be found together unless they became mixed later

Antiquity of the Earth-James Hutton 1726 - 1797-formation of sedimentary rock on scottish coast suggested great antiquity of earth-recognized importance of erosion, sedimentation, volcanism, stratigraphy-“The operations of nature are equable and steady” not unpredicted and catastrophic-“Principle of Uniformitarianism”

Principal of Uniformitarianism (1795)-the laws of nature are constant-the speed of light and gravity did not change with time-the rate of sedimentation in oceans is very slow

-silt collects over time very slowly (few millimeters a year)-depths of deposition, the world must be very old

The First Published Stone Tool“The situation in which these weapons were found may tempt us to refer them to a very remote period indeed; even beyond that of the present world.” -John Frere, 1800-Account of Flint Weapons Discovered at Hoxne, Suffolk. Archaeologia 13, The Society of Antiquaries of London-Pre-Adamites/Antediluvians

Geology and Context-Geologists recognized the importance of context

Charles Lyell 1797 - 1875-Documented antiquity of the Earth-advanced study of stratigraphy-laid foundations for Darwin-speculated on recovery of stone tools in deep strata-The Geological Evidences of the Antiquity of Man 1863

Stratigraphy & Fossils-stratigraphy provides chronological framework

-Stratigraphy requires understanding context-change through time, past life is not like present

Darwinian Evolution-Darwin - 1809 - 1882-Influenced by LYell, Wallace, & Malthus-Gradual evolutionary change-Natural selection-On the Origins of Species 1859-Descent of Man 1871

Human Antiquity Realized-Jacques Boucher de Perthes 1788 - 1868-Stone tools recovered in association with extinct animals in Abbeville, France-Tools recovered in deep strata-Darwinian ideas of gradual, evolutionary change seemed correct

St. Acheul, France-Provided long stratigraphic sequence of stone tools with extinct fauna

Sir Joseph Prestwich (1812-1896)Sir John Evan (1832-1908)

Human Antiquity “Confirmed”-Stone tools found again in association with extinct fauna at Kent’s Cavern, Hoxne, & Brixham Cave-The consensus begins to shift towards a more ancient origin for humans well beyond that allowed for by the Bible

The Three Age System: 1836-Christian Jürgensen Thomsen 1788- 1865-Recognition of Developmental change in remote antiquity-best materials should be used in weapons. Can organize these ancient objects according to their raw materials- Stone > Bronze > Iron

19th Century Paleolithic Archaeology-First scientific discipline to study human prehistory-Supposed all human societies witnessed similar stages of development

-European was most “advanced”-Showed European civilization came from primitive beginnings

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Title: September 13, 2010 UntitledDate: September 13, 2010 12:07 PMCategory: Tags:

The Cultural-Historical -Change happens for murky reasons

-some peoples more inventive/innovative than others-diffusion & migration account for most change

-Archaeological “Cultures”-what you make is an expression of your culture-recurring combination of arch materials found in geographically and temporally

restricted regions

Moving towards explanation-V. Gordon Childe - 1892-1957-Fed up with migration as explanation-Called for systemic understanding of culture

Revolutionaries in Arch-Walter Willard Taylor (1913-97)

-A Study of Archaeology (1948)-sided with Childe, blasted “description for its own sake”-wanted to make archaeology a subfield of anthropology-abandon an elitist focus

-palaces, elite graves, the pyramids, etc.-explain operation of past cultures

-The Conjunctive Approach-chronology as a stepping stone

-understanding how old something is-shift focus to cultural processes-as archaeologists, attempt to do an “ethnography”-investigate the common and everyday archaeology

-Reforms-quantify data

-i.e. measure size of arrowheads, not just count them-test multiple hypotheses-examine the unremarkable

-seeds, bones, garbage-precision in recording

New Archaeology (hourglass notion of research)-broad questions, narrow down, focus in, operationalize-observe-analyze data, reach conclusion, generalize back to original question------nature of archaeology: explanatory vs descriptive-explanation: culture process vs culture history-reasoning: deductive vs inductive-validation: testing vs. authority-research focus: project design vs data accumulation-choice of approach: quantitative vs qualitative-scope: optimistic vs pessimistic

Cultural Materialisminfrastructure (modes of production & reproduction) -> social structure (domestic &

political economy) -> ideological super structure-focus on observable behavior (etic), not unobservable mental states (emic)-infrastructural determinism (env’t, technology, economics)-rational optimization of costs/benefits to meet infrastructure requirements

Processual Archaeology-evolutionary generalizations not historical (descriptive) specifics-seek universal laws about human behavior-explanation is explicitly scientific-seeks objectivity and ethical neutrality-culture = “extrasomatic means of adaptation” (things you use to adapt to in everyday life that isn’t part of the body)-societies are systems (functionalism)-etic (observable) perspective

Post-Processual ArchaeologyPost-Vietnam Academic Trends-“old ways of thinking about the present and living your life changed...”-postmodernism

-distrust of science-relativism-concern over “power”-pessimism-deconstructionism

-everything has more than one meaning/interp-multiculturalism-feminism-environmentalism

The Post-Processual Critique-postmodernist interpretivism applied to past-rejects etic, evolutionary, anti-historical, objective, science-based, ethically neutral approach to past

-concern for social/political context of research-ideology, gender, identity (all EMIC)-power-multiple voices in interpretations of the past

Post-Proc Accomplishments-address historical wrongs

-new research questions-ex: archaeology of africa and african diaspora

-mainstream-important contributions

Archaeology: free for all?-archaeologists engaged in scientific method but touch on EMIC

Phases of Arch-Ask questions-build model/hypothesis

-collect data-analyze data-evaluate results

What was the palaeoenvironmental & temporal context of Neanderthals & Modern humansWere Neanderthals & Modern Humans sympatric or allopatricIf sympatric, what niches & resources were exploited & what kinds of interactions occurredIf allopatric, what were the main differences in nice & resource exploitationWhat rifts or continuities in material culture & behavior can be identified between the last Neanderthals & first humans

Steps in Hypothesis Testing-State hypothesis

-null hypothesis (H0) = no differenceex. B1 = B2

-alternative hypothesis (Ha) = real difference

ex. B1 > B2-Test statistic: decide which tests are appropriate-Reject null?: Reject null or fail to reject null. One never “proves” H0 or Ha

Hunting abilities distinguish modern humans from neanderthals-tests: species representation, mortality, life history, characteristics

Artifact diversity & “Sophistication” distinguish modern humans from neanderthals-tests: core reduction, blank production, tool manufacture, use, recycling, & discard

(Post-Processual) Social relationships & interactions distinguish modern humans from neanderthals-tests: mobility, land use, & raw material exploitation

Hunting Abilities Distinguish Modern Humans from Neanderthals

Neanderthals & modern humans focused on the same high-ranked prey (capra caucasica) during late fall-early winter/exploited the same niches and resources (competition?).

social relationships & interactions distinguish modern humans from neanderthalsneanderthals & modern humans...-practiced different patterns of land use & mobility-perhaps due to different population & social network sizes

Modern Humans-earliest were african-complex new socio cultural, symbolic, technological, & linguistic capabilities-larger, more integrated populations & the efficient exchange of information-origins at approx 300,000 ya with eventual replacement of archaic humans beginning by 60,000 ya

Title: September 20, 2010 UntitledDate: September 20, 2010 12:01 PMCategory: Tags:

How to excavate? Where?-assuming you have a site, how do you approach it?-depends on questions you are asking & interpretive strategies

Before 1960s -archaeologists paid little attention to sampling-excavation aims

-recover objects-excavate deeply stratified sites

Why think of sampling?-important for hypothesis testing

-statistical techniques have stringent sampling requirements-big concern of archaeology starting in the 60s

-desire to be scientific-get NSF money

Survey-typically pedestrian-walk around and look at ground-find artifacts, use their style to fit into local relative chronology

Transects-systematic way of surveying-sample/investigate along an arbitrary line across the landscape-map in locations of finds-requires surveying equipment

Regional Survey-strategies depend on time and money-total coverage not possible-sampling

-non-probabilistic -sample random-stratified random-systematic-others: stratified systematic or systematic unaligned

Non-probabilistic sampling-also called targeted-fully documented known or observed sites-no idea of surrounding landscape

Simple Random Sampling-unbiased

-problems-dispersions of random numbers may be unlucky-all landscape treated equally

-some places very unlikely to contain sites (swamps)-recovery greater variety of sites

Stratified Random Sampling-unbiased (maybe)-divide landscape into different environmental zones

-randomly sample each zone-apportion number of samples based on area of each zone

-2/5 in sloping zone-3/5 in flat zone

-insures some sampling of all env’ts

Systematic Sampling-unbiased-insures coverage of entire region-Caveat: if sites themselves were systematically arranged, you can miss them!-other strategies too

Biasing your Survey-time of day-personnel-landscape variability

-ground cover-erosion, re-deposition

-other factors-domestic animals-guys with guns

Excavation Sampling-very similar to survey sampling-but also 3D!

-must judge how deep/wide to make excavations

Random Sampling-least biased sampling method-locations of excavations determined by generating a list of random coordinates

Systematic Sampling-goal is to provide equal, and unbiased coverage of a suspected site-useful for determining the boundaries of a site-excavation units distributed equally across the study area

Targeted Sampling-most biased

Theoretical Questions-what is a representative sample?-what is the population you’re sampling?

Current State-sampling is still a big issue

-more caution in how samples relate to the “population” under study-methods of survey still in use-recent developments

-remote sensing (GPR)-ariel photography

Aeriel Recon-some underground pfeatures often easier to see from air-vegetation changes

-visible with oblique ohotography-positive/negative/no crop marks

-differentiation soil conditions with underground features

Negative Crop marks/Soil Marks

Satellites Imagery-often similar principle to aerial photography-sometimes easier to acquire (post Cold War)

Angkor Wat-dense vegetation in surrounding region

-difficult to survey

Satellite Radiar-different types of reflection between archaeological features and surroundings

Chaco Canyon-linear road features clear in infrared

Excavation-excavation is destructive-RECORD EVERYTHING IN DETAIL-excavations involve multidisciplinary research teams-excavations require careful planning, research designs that are realistic and flexible-excavations are very expensive

Tools/Techniques-horizontal and vertical controls

-grid system-profile of section-elevation or above-sea-level (ASL) readings-3 dimensional recording of finds

Types of Excavation-total vs. selective excavation

-normally there is not enough time or money to excavate a site totally; tend to leave part of site intact for future excavators-vertical vs horizontal excavation

-vertical = selective trenching or pits into deep deposits-horizontal = area or block excavation exposes large area

Title: Geology, Fossilization and TaphonomyDate: September 27, 2010 12:03 PMCategory: Tags:

Fossil = mineralized remains of animal or plant (usually bones or teeth)

Trace Fossil = sign of animal’s or plant’s interaction with its env’t (footprints, burrows)

Artifact = any object made or modified by hominids

Context of artifact or fossil-where found?-how buries?-how old?-circumstances of life (env’t)

Gives meaning to artifact or fossil. How did this object get here?

Context really means geology

Sedimentary Rocks-made up of particles derived from erosion of other rocks-preserve artifacts and fossils

Refer to GSCI notes

Title: dating techniques in archDate: September 29, 2010 11:57 AMCategory: Tags:

Dating methods used in prehistory-establish sequence of change-establish pace of change-allow correlation with other sites and phenomena

establishing chronology-absolute dating

-provides a date such as 35000 BC., 30,000 BP-can be expensive

relative dating-provides a sequence, but not pace of change (e.g. older/younger)-used in conjunction with absolute techniques

relative chronology-based on the interpretation of stratigraphy using the Law of Superposition-comparison of layers or sites to establish a chronological sequence

Relative Chronology-seriation (stylistic change)-common in archaeology

Stylistic Analysis-latest prehistoric artifacts should be most similar to earliest historical artifacts-determines direction of change

Dendrochronology: Tree Rings-first absolute dating technique

-limited applicability-trees produce annual rings

-rings vary depending on yearly environmental conditions-math patterns of variation

-build regional tree-ring chronologies based on patterns of variation

Building up sequences of tree-rings that are longer than life of a single tree

American Southwest-used to date architecture-good for environmental reconstruction

Chronometric dating

Radiocarbon Dating-Willard LIbby (1908 - 1980)

-american chemist-worked on radioactivity during WWII as part of the development of the atomic

bomb-developed radiocarbon dating in 1947

Radiocarbon Dating: 14C

-14C is unstable isotope of 12C-subject to radioactive decay-half-life = 5730 +/- 40 years-can date samples up to 40,000 kya (thousand years ago)-gives ages in years BP (P = 1950)

-e.g. 4000 BP = 2050 BC-measure ratio of radio-isotope to its decay products

-for 14C one half-life is 5730 years

14C Dating-samples easy to find

-bone collagen

-charcoal-seeds-wood

-fractionation complicates matters

-differences in how organisms absorb 14C-marine vs. terrestrial

Ratios of 14C to 12C

-relative quantity of 14C varies somewhat

-must “calibrate” 14C dates for accuracy

Tree Rings & 14C

-pioneers of 14C dating checked with dendrochronology-found errors

-amount of 14C in atmosphere is NOT constant-trees provide reference point to calibrate date

-source of organic samples of known age

-now know amount of 14C for past 10,000+ years

Calibration Curve

-amount of 14C in a sample could mean several calendar dates-calibration important to provide “calendar dates”-some uncertainty

Counting Carbon-beta-decay counting

-counting emissions of e(-) as 14C decays to 14N-somewhat imprecise

-background radiation-large sample required (40g)

-accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS)-directly count isotopes-more precise-small samples (5 g)-expensive

Radiocarbon Cautions-1 date is not reliable

-contamination-disturbances

-types of samples-“old wood” problem . short lived samples (seeds) best

-limited to last ~40,000 years

Title: Zooarchaeology

Date: October 4, 2010 11:59 AMCategory: Tags:

How do humans use animals?-bone and antler for tools-sinew for lashing-food-clothing-companionship

Data Collection-species identification-which element and bone portion is it-comparative collection

Aging-tooth wear and eruption sequences-bone growth and fusion sequences

Sexing

Surface Damage: Tophonomy-the study of the process that affect bones from the time that they were used by humans in the past to the time when they were recovered in the present-before human behavior can be reconstructed we must unravel the taphonomic history of an assemblage to ensure that the patterns that we study were created by humans

CarnivoresBone weathering (exposure of bones to elements)

Surface Damage: Evidence in human behavior

Domestication

Social life of the people who use the animals

Ideology

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Social Position of Individual Buried in structure A-significant investment in construction and preparation of the grae-an old woman, with congenital pathologies-unique animal inclusions

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feasting-large number of tortoises and the large size of the aurochs indicate that large quantities

of meat were consumed in discrete events at Hilazon Tachtit-the contexts suggest that these occurred in connection with special funerary events

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SUMMARY-animals in funerary contexts at Hilazon Tachtit provide early evidence for:

-ritual practitioners: women interpreted as a shaman-- a social position difficult to identify in the prehistory record

-feasting: a universal behavior of human

Title: October 11, 2010 UntitledDate: October 11, 2010 12:03 PMCategory: Tags:

What did we eat? And how do we know what we ate?-fauna: animals/bones-flora: phytoliths, pollen, macrobotanicals-human size, stature and health-land use-chemistry (stable isotopes and trace elements)

Diet and Prehistory-paleoethnobotany/archaeobotany & zooarchaeology-uneven preservation

-taphonomy-diagenesis

-relative importance of different foods difficult to discern

Nutritional Problems-Rickets

-bowing of bones-linked with vitamin D deficiency -prob related to dietary problems

-scurvy-exposure and disorganization of vascular channels-poor calcium deposition

Refer to notes from ANTH 1500 (Oct 12, 2009)

Incidence of Cribra Orbitalia-increased evidence for anemia-intensification of agriculture

-adoption of maize (?) and iron poor diets

Enamel Hypoplasia

Robust and Gracile

-interpretation-dietary difference

-robust tooth wear-gritty hard diet-1700 lbs of force (we use 400)

-gracile tooth wear-softer foods

Early Homo-closer to gracile than robust clade

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Stable Isotope Analysis-isotopes: atoms of same element that have different masses (i.e. same #protons, different #neutrons)-mass spec

-cheap! $8/sample-accelerate ions (charged particles_

-bend beam with magnet-path of lightest ions change the most

*we can look at the stable isotopes of Nitrogen and Carbon (in bone collagen etc) to determine diets

C3 Photosynth (Trees and Shrubs)C4 Photosynth (Grasses)

Maize and ∂13C

Nitrogen and Carbon Isotopic Composition of HUman Bone Collagen-shift from marine diet to terrestrial diets-eating different, largens bones

Title: October 25, 2010 UntitledDate: October 25, 2010 12:03 PMCategory: Tags:

Do ancient environments matter?-climate: temp, rainfall, seasonality-geology: availability of raw materials-vegetation: food resources (wild & domesticated)-soils: wild & domesticated plants-hydrology: water resources/barriers

oxygen isotope ratios (OIS)

-(O16/O18): A proxy for ancient temp

Greenland Ice Sheet Project-sections of ice core from thousands of feet deep

-carbon dioxide or O16:O18 for dating-stratigraphic

Variation in air temp (relative to current temp of -55.5 deg C at Vostok) and CO2

Pollen: Reconstruction of Past Vegetation-palynology: the study of microscopic plant remains (pollen)

Human Impacts on the Env’t in Antiquity-agriculture-irrigation-deforestation-terracing

Environmental Degradation-popular theme-supported by some evidence

-salination in mesopotamia-deforestation in soil/erosion in maya region

-what causes it?

Accumulating salt-decline in agricultural productivity in mesopotamia-by 2300 BC, some places only 30% productive-large regions abandoned by 1900 BC-still not used

Classic Maya Civilization-250-800 AD-several rival city-states-often fragile rain-forest env’ts-far-reaching collapse

Copan Urbanization-copan was very successful-urban sprawl in valley-agricultural land occupied, farming shifts to hills-drier conditions during collapse period-causal significance unknown: anthropogenic = deforestation? enough to trigger a collapse of civilization?

Title: November 1, 2010 UntitledDate: November 1, 2010 12:06 PMCategory: Tags:

Title: November 1, 2010 UntitledDate: November 1, 2010 12:06 PMCategory: Tags:

Cognitive Arch-Renfrew & Bahn - The study of past ways of though and symbolic structure from material remains-Flannery and Marcus - The study of all those aspects of ancient culture that are the product of the human mind

Cosmology: the perception, description, & classification of the universeReligion: the nature of the supernaturalIdeology: the principles, philosophies, ethics and values by which human societies are governedIconography: the ways in which aspects of the world, the supernatural, or human values are conveyed in artAll other forms of human intellectual and symbolic behavior found in the archaeological record

Some archaeological avenues to exploring belief systems-interpretations of icons, signs, and symbols-excavation of sites of ritual and religious observances (shrines, temples, churches, synagogues, etc.)-interpretation of items with known religious associations (holy medals, rosaries, etc.)

What is ritual?-Ritual is the formal aspect of religion-ritual is external-once performed, ritual crystallizes experience; creates a visible external form;

why are they performed?-elements of religious observances-part of shamanistic vision quests-to mark rites of passage (birth, death, coming of age, etc.)-healing-protection against evil spirits, etc.

How do we recognize ritual?-discovery of specific areas of ritual performance & religious observance shrines, temples, burials, altars etc.-discovery of ritual paraphernalia - need to be aware of cultural significance of certain items or symbols

Portable Art-engraved/carved objects for ritual

Venus Figurines-exaggerated sexual figures

Cave Art-medium that survives best (probable use of other materials: clay and wood)-most caves located in SW Europe (S France and N Spain): perhaps as much an accident of preservation and research focus as real geographic distribution

Human Representations-generally single human figure per cave-often schematic-often engraved rather than painted-in many cases, people are represented only by an anatomical part (hand, sexual organs)

Les Trois Freres France-some cases have body part replaced by animal parts (chimera)

Title: Tales from the Crypt: Stories in Forensic ArchDate: November 8, 2010 12:01 PMCategory: Tags:

Use of Forensic Arch-differences between forensic anthro and forensic arch-current crime scene recovery techniques and the task of evidence accumulation-as a part of multi-disciplinary teams

-DMORT

Benefits of Arch Expertise-more complete recovery of crime scene-better documentation of physical evidence

Archaeology-context of death

-framing a series of questions about how the “how and why” of human behavior-events leading to death-cause and manner of death-ante- and post-mortem treatment of remains-ultimate disposal of individual remains

Forensic Arch-Brown U-RI Night Club fire-World Trade Center

-ground-zero-staten island landfill

Doug Scott-battlefield archaeology-testifies at Saddam Hussein’s trial (2006)-showed that events were not cause of battlefield deaths, but executions

Human Rights Violations-guatemala-exhumation carried out in the presence and assistance of family members-unlike medico-legal procedure in US-different order of priorities

Burial Locaton-forensic remains generally occur in 2 contexts:

-surface finds-burials

-Visual inspections of ground, soil, and vegetation provides clues to the location of a buried body. soil type will affect the condition of these visual clues:-soil compaction-disturbed vegetation-disturbed soil

Title: November 15, 2010 UntitledDate: November 15, 2010 12:03 PMCategory: Tags:

Historical Arch Goals-provide info useful for historic preservation and site interp-documents the lifeways of past people-study complex process of modernization with accompanying social and cultural change and adjustments

Documentary Evidence-Maps-Land deeds/chain of title

-ownership-cost-improvement-date and range of occupation-land use & env’tl history

-households-diaries-probates-overseer’s records

-probates-status, wealth, room function, household compositions, occupation

-first room, hall, buttery, bedchamber, parlor

Domestic Material Culture

Ceramic Assemblage-inferences

-foodways-socioeconomic status

-function-date and duration of occupation

-utilitarian wares-refined wares

Battlefield Archaeology-the specific study of a particular archaeological horizon in which a military action occurred. this may include both “bounded” battlefields where troop disposition, numbers and the order of battle are known from textual records, and also from undocumented evidence of conflict-the discipline is distinct from military history in that it seeks to answer different questions, including the experiences of ordinary soldiers in wider political.......

Battlefield Documentation-time line, terrain analysis, sites, movements, actions

KOCOA - military terrain analysis-K- key terrain; ground (usually high ground) that gives its possessor an advantage, such as a hilltop-O- obstacles. features that prevented/restricted

CRM - Cultural Resource Management-Documentation, management and preservation of historic place of archaeological, architectural, and historical significance in compliance with environmental and historic preservation laws

-archaeology-architectural history-historic preservation-maritime/marine archaeology

National Historic Preservation Act-purpose of this act is to secure the protection of archaeological resources and sites which are on public land and indian lands-a cultural resource inventory will be required to identify potentially significant or significant cultural resources for any federal undertaking or permitted or funded project which might result in a negative impact to cultural or historic resources

National Register of Historic Places-coordinate, identify, and protect significant historic archaeological sites in the US & properties and sites of traditional and cultural importance to Native American tribes-criteria for significance

-a. the property must make a contribution to the broad patterns of American history-b. is associated with significant people in the American past-c. distinctive characteristics of the building through its construction and

architecture, including having high artistic value or being the work of a master-d. property has yielded or may be likely to yield information important to

prehistory or history

Site Survey-finding and assessing significance of archaeological sites

Finding Archaeological SItes-archaeological survey

-systematic attempt to locate, identify, and record the distribution of archaeological sites in relation to their nat’l env’t

-surface survey, subsurface testing, chance, documents, oral traditions, remote sensing

Mashantucket-oldest continually occupied landscape in Eastern North America-the pequot and their ancestors have occupied mashantucket for 11,000 years-the mash pequot res is the oldest in the US - 1666-Great Ceder Swamp

Remote Sensing in Arch-aerial photography-electric resistivity-GPR-sub bottom profiling

Title: December 1, 2010 UntitledDate: December 1, 2010 12:03 PMCategory: Tags:

Archaeology and the Public: Power, politics, & economics -looting-antiques trade-nagpra

Our past is non-renewable!

Antiquities Trade-unknown scale-controversial trade

Public Responses-trade persists-General appreciation of value of the past (should be laws protecting arch sites)-laws restricting importation of artifacts

-Global: World Heritage Convention-USA- NHPA, Sect 106-State & Local laws

The USA v Other Nations-most gov’ts “own” all archaeological resources in their territory, above & below ground-US has no centralized archaeological authority

-disorganized mess-USA generally considers archaeological resources on private land as private property

-no external control-Sec 106 applies only when federal money used

Illicit Trade in Antiquities-80% of all antiquities on the market have been illegally excavated & smuggled out of the country of origin-thefts of art & antiquities is one of the larges areas of international crime activity

NAGPRA-law passed in 1990-return artifacts to american -Science v traditional-Current native american groups have rights over human remains and cultural materials now in museums-human remains are sensitive

Kennewick Man- ~9400 BP-physical features atypical of current native tribes

-caucasoid -judge sided with natives - reburial-scientists can demonstrate there is no close genetic archaeological (cultural), or morphological affiliation to current tribes. Thus, according to the law, current tribes have NO claim to the remains-current tribes claim they have ALWAYS lived on their land and thus kennewick man is their ancestor and they DO have a claim to his remains under NAGPRA-how do societies and courts mediate competing claims based on competing value systems & fundamentally different methods of constructing knowledge