The Archaeologist 🪨🛠️ Flashcards
(18 cards)
Exacavation
When archaeologists dig up the ground to find evidence left by people in the past.
Aerial photograph
A photograph taken of the ground from an elevated position, for example from a helicopter or drone.
Research archaeology
When an old map, document etc reveal that a building or structure once existed on the site and archaeologists decide to investigate.
Rescue archaeology
Before construction can take place, you must make sure there is no evidence of the past that will be lost forever.
Steps of excavating a site
- carry out a survey to see if the sight is worth excavating
- dig test trenches
- remove the topsoil using a digger or pick axe
- dig carefully with shovels and trowels to remove soil
- use brushes to delicately remove soil on any objects
- use sieves to filter out the soil, making sure no objects get thrown away
- record the position of every artefact found
- catalogue the details of each artefact on computers
- put artefacts into bags and send them to a laboratory
The six skills/methods used in archaeology
- Radiocarbon dating
- Geophysical surveying
- Pollen analysis
- Stratigraphy
- Dendrochronology
- DNA testing, 3D reconstruction and bones
Radiocarbon dating
A method of measuring the age of a living thing by researching how much carbon-14 is in it. The less carbon-14 means the older the tissue - and how little can tell us how old.
Mesolithic
Means ‘of the Middle Stone Age’
Hunter-gatherers
People who hunted animals for food and gathered berries and nuts, but has not yet learned how to farm.
Geophysical surveying
An x-ray of the ground.
- Maps and images of any archaeological evidence underground are made without excavation.
- It can locate artefacts and ruined buildings or structures.
Neolithic
‘Of the New Stone Age’
Pollen Analysis
The study of pollen remains to find out what was growing at a site during a particular time period.
Stratigraphy
The method used to date artefacts and evidence by how deep they were in the ground when found.
- the deeper they are, the older they will be.
Dendrochronology
A method of dating that uses the unique growth patterns of tree rings as a guide.
DNA testing
Can tell us about the origins and ethnicity of the person.
Examining bones
Examining bones can tell us a lot
- pelvis shows whether the person was male or female
- teeth gives an idea of persons age
- bones show signs of disease or malnutrition
Iron Age
The period when people made tools and weapons from iron.
Conservation
When historic objects are protected and preserved so that they do not decay.
