Chapter 1

Section 5

What is archaeology? • Archaeology is the

study of remains of past human life—which

began 500 years ago.• Archaeologists study artifacts or things

made by people. • Archaeologists excavate or dig in the

earth and attempt to understand how people

lived long ago.

Artifacts• Why do we study

artifacts?– Not many written

records from ancient times

• Examples: – art– weapons– tools– pottery

Important Archaeological Finds

• Ancient Roman cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii– showed exactly how ancient Romans lived– found streets, temples, houses, and

theaters

• Rosetta Stone– Carved stone found in Egypt– contained translation from Egyptian picture

writing to Greek…a two-language dictionary

– was a key to learn more about history of Egypt and its people.

Dating Archaeological Remains• In 1832, scientist Christian J.

Thomsen divided early human history into three ages or periods

based on tools or weapons used by

people at the time.– Stone Age– Bronze Age– Iron Age

• Later divided by how they got their food: food gatherers (gets food from hunting, fishing, etc.) then food producers (farming, domesticate animals, etc.)

Dating Archaeological Remains

• Trees were first used to date archaeological finds-each year trees form a new growth ring• Scientists would count rings from a

wooden object found at a sight, and compare it to the age of a tree they knew

• Carbon 14 dating– discovered by Willard Frank Libby– Every living thing contains carbon 14,

which gradually disappears over time– Can date an object as far back as

30,000 years ago

Closing Questions

• What is archaeology? What do they study?

• What were the three main archaeological finds?

• What are the three ages, in order?• What are the two methods used to

date artifacts?