WHAT IS WHAT IS ARCHAEOLOGY?ARCHAEOLOGY?

Archaeology means the ‘study of Archaeology means the ‘study of everything ancient’.everything ancient’.

Archaeologists examine all possible Archaeologists examine all possible kinds of available evidence in the kinds of available evidence in the search for knowledge of our early search for knowledge of our early ancestors.ancestors.

Old bones, ancient buildings, artefacts Old bones, ancient buildings, artefacts (pots, jars, etc.), paintings and even (pots, jars, etc.), paintings and even old household rubbish and coins.old household rubbish and coins.

PRESERVING THE PASTPRESERVING THE PAST

The past can survive. The past can survive. Such survival depends on varied Such survival depends on varied

weather conditions some of which weather conditions some of which are: desert heat (Mummy are: desert heat (Mummy preservation), water logging preservation), water logging (Tollund Man), volcanic ash (Tollund Man), volcanic ash (Pompeii), very cold conditions( Ice (Pompeii), very cold conditions( Ice Man), and cemeteries and tombs Man), and cemeteries and tombs (Egyptian mummies).(Egyptian mummies).

Tollund ManTollund Man

PompeiiPompeii

Ice ManIce Man

Egyptian MummificationEgyptian Mummification

DATING THE PASTDATING THE PAST

How old is it? is an obvious, but crucial How old is it? is an obvious, but crucial question.question.

Because there is no evidence of writing Because there is no evidence of writing before about 3000 BCbefore about 3000 BC archaeologists archaeologists have to use other methods.have to use other methods.

Some methods of dating are: Some methods of dating are: stratigraphy (lower the layer the older stratigraphy (lower the layer the older the deposits), dendrochronology (tree-the deposits), dendrochronology (tree-ring dating) and radiocarbon dating ring dating) and radiocarbon dating (carbon 14).(carbon 14).

StratigraphyStratigraphy

DendrochronologyDendrochronology

Radiocarbon DatingRadiocarbon Dating