AN INTRODUCTION TO

ARCHAEOLOGY AND
THE STUDY OF
HUMAN REMAINS

A relatively new
discipline
DIGGING UP THE PAST
ARCHAEOLOGY
For centuries, historians have used written records as their main
source of information about historical events, important people and
cultural groups. This reliance on written evidence has limited what
historians can learn about the past. Archaeologists use other
sources: they study the material remains of past societies to learn
about people and how they lived. Archaeologists play a major role
in developing a complete understanding of the past.

Today, historians draw their information from both written and

material evidence. When studying history, it is pertinent that
evidence is compiled from a variety of sources. This provides for a
more balanced perspective and adds value to the
 What is Archaeology?
Archaeology comes from the Greek archaia (“ancient things”), and logos
(“science” or “theory”).
Archaeology is the study of the material remains of the past. Without this
science and the work of archaeologists, we would know very little about
ancient humans.
Archaeologists are specialists in the study of early humans and early
civilizations because we have few, if any, written records from this era.
To understand this early period in our history, we depend on physical
remains.
Archaeologists are like detectives, they search out physical clues to solve
the mysteries of the past.
 Archaeology in Academia

■ Archaeology is one of
Archaeology
four sub-disciplines of
Anthropology.
■ Anthropology is the study
of people and their Culture
biology and culture across
space and time.
■ Anthropology Speech
Subdisciplines: &
– Archaeology Language
– Cultural Anthropology Biology of Man
– Linguistic Anthropology
– Biological or Physical
Anthropology
Think about?
1. If we were to use only written
evidence in an investigation
of an ancient society, what
would be the gaps in our
knowledge?
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Archaeology Specialties
■ Egyptologists, Mayanists,
■ Prehistoric Archaeology Assyriologists
– – Study of specific
Before writing.
civilizations or time
■ Historical Archaeology periods.
– Document/writing assisted ■ Cultural Resource
■ Classical Archaeology Management
– Greek and Roman – Management and
assessment of significant
■ Biblical Archaeology cultural resources.
■ Underwater Archaeology
– Shipwrecks or anything else
under water.
■ Industrial Archaeology
– Industrial Revolution and
other modern structures
.
 Archaeology Terms
■ Question-based:
Archaeologists study
artifacts in order to answer
questions about how
humans lived.
■ Past: Archaeologists study
human cultures that are no
longer living.
■ Culture: Any learned
behaviour that is shared
with others.
 History of Archaeology
■ The first archaeologists
– Antiquarians or wealthy collectors of
artifacts
Christian Jurgensen Thomsen
■ Early Archaeology
– It was a combination of several other
sciences concerned with the evolution of
man.
■ 1817
– Danish archaeologist Christian Jurgensen
Thomsen opened the National Museum of
Antiquities in Copenhagen to the public.
■ 1859 Origin of Species.
– Darwin publishes his book.
■ 1920’s
– Archaeology became a fully fledged
scientific discipline. Charles
Darwin
 Modern Scientific Archaeology
1960’s
■ The invention of modern scientific
excavation techniques
DNA
■ Using a multidisciplinary approach to
study people.
■ Increasing impact of science on Botany
archaeology
■ Refinement of archaeological theory.

Dendrochronology
 Academic Goals of Archeology
■ Culture History
– Sequence of events
– How artifacts change over time
– Explain why events happened.
■ Lifeways Reconstruction
– Technology, subsistence,
exchange, settlement, social
organization, ideology, etc.
■ Culture Process
– Theoretical models on lifeways.

Photo from my work at Mammoth Cave National Park.

 What do archaeologists do?
Archaeolosts gather material evidence of the past. This may be done through surveys,
aerial photography and advances such as ground penetrating radar that do not disturb
the site.
When a decision to dig is made, archaeologists are aware they are destroying the site
as they make discoveries – ethical commitment is paramount.
Archaeologists work at a dig site to gather data, and then spend the majority of their
time in a lab analyzing this data. They eventually write reports on their findings for
other people to read about and learn from.
 Why do archaeologists excavate?
Archaeologists excavate for four kinds of information: They look for
• Evidence about past environments. Things such as seeds, animal bones and soil.
These are called Ecofacts.
• Evidence of things people made or did that can't be moved, such as house floors or
hearths. These are called Features.
• Evidence of the tools or other items that people made and that can be moved or
carried. Objects like arrowheads or pottery are called Artifacts.
• Organic materials, such as animal and human bones or their fossilized remains. The
recognizable remains, or the impressions left by them, of a plant or animal
preserved in the earth’s crust are called Fossils.
 How do archaeologists find sites?
There are many ways that an archaeologist find sites. First of all, an
archaeologist knows what environmental factors humans have always
needed in order to stay alive. These include easy access to water,
location on a trade route, and a geographic location that allows for
natural protection. With this information in mind, an archaeologist can
study maps to locate likely places where prehistoric people may have
lived.
In addition to this, archaeologists often learn of sites when construction
companies clear land to build houses, shopping centres, etc., and they
uncover artifacts. Most states have laws that require construction crews
to report their discoveries of artifacts and features to a local
archaeologist.
Once in a while a farmer might happen upon an artifact while working
in the field. Archaeologists appreciate learning of these discoveries, and
having landowners cooperate with them by giving them permission to
investigate these potential sites.
 They find artifacts, then what?
Archaeologists study the finds at various sites to unravel some of
the mysteries surrounding how humans lived. They are assisted in
their detective work by other closely associated scientists called
anthropologists, paleontologists, and paleoanthropologists.
Anthropologists are scientists who study the origin, development,
distribution, social habits, and culture of humans.
Paleontologists examine the fossil remains of animal and plant life
to understand past geological periods.
Paleoanthropologists combine the work of both these scientists.
 How are archaeological finds dated?
Radiocarbon or carbon-14 dating is used as a way to determine the age of
a find. Physicist Willard F. Libby of the University of Chicago discovered
this method in 1948.
Carbon 14 or C-14 is an unstable or radioactive form of carbon that has
eight neutrons, rather than the six associated with ordinary carbon or
carbon 12.
All forms of life have organic molecules containing carbon atoms, and
have about the same ratio of C-14 atoms to other carbon atoms in their
tissues. When an organism dies, the C-14 begins to decay. In radiocarbon
dating, the fewer the C-14 atoms, the older the organism.
The rate of decay is steady. The half-life of C-14 is about 5730 years. In
other words, in 5730 years, half of the C-14 will have decayed. The next
quarter decays after another 5730 years. After 50,000 years, there is little
measurable C-14 left. Therefore, radiocarbon dating works well for
relatively recent objects from the distant past.
 More on dating…
To date older materials other techniques are needed.
Thorium decay and transformations can be used to date items between
100,000 and 500,000 years old.
In rocks, the decay of potassium 40 to argon 40 can be used to date
specimens from 500,000 to millions of years old.
The decay of rubidium to strontium can be used to date archaeological
finds into the billions of years.
Archaeologists have other methods as well. Sometimes they measure
the amount of surface decomposition on certain stone tolls or the
amount of thermo luminescence visible when ancient pottery is heated.
During the 1980s, Derek York of the University of Toronto developed a
new dating technology using lasers. This method made it possible to
get an accurate date from a single microscopic crystal of volcanic
material.
 ARCHAEOLOGY IS NOT PERFECT

Some problems with archaeology..

Limited sources available due to climate, environment, or human
encroachment.
The Archaeologists cultural, religious, or political bias may blur
scientific research.
Government in power may limit archaeological ‘finds’ or taint
interpretations.
Personal ambitions may taint the interpretations of artifacts/finds.
Over excitement may impair judgment and interpretation.
Existing interpretations or theories may colour the interpretation of new
finds.
Some famous sites - Construction
London – Crossrail
■ Crossrail is a 118-kilometre (73-mile)
railway line, running through parts
of London and the home counties
of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire
and Essex.
■ As the line is constructed
archaeologists survey and excavate
before the tunnels are built.
Some famous sites- indigenous
Three axes from different layers of the site and a
rectangular sharpening stone from the 65,000-year level .
■ Madjedbebe Rock Shelter N.T
■ New excavations of a rock shelter near Kakadu National
Park indicate humans reached Australia at least 65,000
years ago — up to 18,000 years earlier than
archaeologists previously thought.
■ Date of site near Kakadu has been debated for nearly 30
years
■ Prior to this study many archaeologists believed humans
arrived in Australia between 47,000 - 50,000 years ago
■ Excavation found a wealth of artefacts including
ground-edge axes, grindstones, flints and ochre as well
as evidence of fireplaces right through the site
■ Many scientists already accepted that the shelter, called
Madjedbebe, was home to the earliest evidence of
humans in Australia.
■ But now, sophisticated dating of sediments at the site
confirms it is one of the most significant cultural and
archaeological sites in the world.
■ ABC News: 20th July 2017
Some significant Sites – Metal
Detectors 2009
Staffordshire Hoard
■ Gold artefacts were discovered by Terry
Herbert on 5 July 2009, when he was
searching an area of recently ploughed
farmland
near Hammerwich, Statffordshire with
a metal detector. Over the next five days,244
gold objects were recovered from the soil.
■ Excavations, conducted by English Heritage
followed that discovered more items. The
hoard was declared “treasure” under the
Treasure Act 1996 UK.
■ The Staffordshire Hoard is the
largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold and
silver metalwork yet found. It consists of over
3,500 items, amounting to a total of 5.1 kg
(11 lb) of gold, 1.4 kg (3 lb) of silver and
some 3,500 pieces
of garnet cloisonné jewellery.
■ The hoard was most likely deposited in the
7th century, and contains artefacts probably
manufactured during the 6th and 7th
centuries.
Some significant sites – traditions
■ Richard III -
Greyfriars
• In 2009 a fund-raising drive by the
Richard III Society embarked on a push
to finally uncover the truth of his final
resting place, by making an
archaeological dig on the site of the
friary – a modern-day city council car
park.

https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3Nsg-1J
W9o
Applied Goals of Archaeology

■ Conveying the past as it’s

known through archaeology.
■ The proper way to do
archaeology.
■ Archaeology is a profession.
■ Public Education
– Museum exhibits
– Television shows
– Documentary films
– Public lectures, digs, or
workshops.
Anthropology – The study of
human remains?
■ Anthropologist Study the Science
of humanity. They are, concerned
with human behaviour, human
biology, and societies, in both the
present and past
Our focus

 How are human remains preserved and stored?

 How have human remains been discovered?
 What methods of scientific analysis are used to study human remains?
 What modern preservation techniques are used in relation to human
remains?
 What is the significance of studying human remains?

■ What are the ethical issues surrounding the treatment, ownership and
display of human remains?
Seamus Heaney

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsoUBO0qRQg

https://youtu.be/Cytwy1KFOqE?fe
ature=shared