The Goal Of Archaeological Research

- While children are influenced by many things, there are no stronger influences that that of their parents as they are usually their child’s first playmates and while the world expands with each passing year, parental influence is still one of the greatest factors in determining the ways in which a child will grow and develop.

While children are influenced by many things, there are no stronger influences than that of their parents. Parents are usually their children’s first playmates, and while there world expands with each passing year, parental influence is still one of the greatest factors in determining the ways in which the child will grow and develop.

Anthropology is the study of humans in the past and present. Four subfields encompass anthropology; Archaeology, cultural anthropology, linguistics, and physical anthropology. Archaeology is the study of human cultures in the past through material remains. These material remains include artifacts as well as architecture. Archaeologist can focus in prehistoric, historic, or classical archaeology. Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark, is an example of archaeology in film. It is not the best example since Dr. Jones does not carry the correct equipment with him in the field (notebooks, trowel, shovel) nor does he take any notes when removing an artifact from a site. However, the film does portray how an archaeologist would dig in order to recover artifacts, like when Indy and the team find the

The upbringing of Neanderthal children is believed by some scientists to have been harsh. High activity levels and frequent periods of scarcity form part of the basis for this interpretation. However, such trials in childhood may not be distinctive from the normal experiences of early modern human children, or those of hunter-gatherers in particularly cold environments. There is a crucial distinction to be made between a harsh childhood and a childhood lived in a harsh environment. Anatomical analyses of Neanderthal long bones have revealed that survival depended on adapting to high levels of activity and a rugged terrain. However, there is little to distinguish Neanderthal physical stamina from that of early modern humans. Both populations

Participation by archaeologists in the indigenous construction of heritage remains a difficult and controversial issue (McGuire 1992:37, Nicholas and Andrews 1997a:12, 1997b:277; Trigger 2006:177-189). Following the critical theory of Habermas (1971:14-22, 1973:32-40) and its use in archaeology (Leone et al. 1987:283-292; Lyons 2005:1; Wylie 1985:138), archaeological practice is clearly a socio-political action in and for the present (Tilley 1989:105). Collaborative research with stakeholders may influence interpretation and results for social and political gain (McGhee 2008:580-581). This influence may

To begin this study, it will be useful to start with a brief discussion of the major differences between Neanderthals and modern humans, because as will be seen, these differences may have a played a key role in their eventual extinction. Neanderthals were not the brutish, ape-like creatures they are often depicted as in popular media, but they did have some noticeable anatomical differences from modern humans. In general they were stockier with shorter, more powerful limbs, but these limbs

“In our view, this change in morphology among late Neanderthals supports the hypothesis of anatomical change of late Neanderthals and the hypothesis of a certain degree of interbreeding with AMHs that, as the dating shows, was already present in the European territory” (Condemi et al. e59781). This evidence is compelling and leads into an important discussion of what everyday life was like for the Neanderthals: despite being “primitive” humanoids, they had a culture and evidence exists that they were among the first species to engage in higher-order

We can find out about prehistoric lives from a variety of sources. Archaeologists and physical anthropologists can research prehistory and unearth more information by sorting through and observing artifacts, a handmade object whether completely intact or not that represents the cultural aspects of a different time period. Examples of artifacts include stone tools (daggers, projectile points, spears, harpoons, arrowheads) for hunting and gathering food, pottery (for storing food), weapons, objects for personal use such as jewelry, clothing, and buttons, and tools used for daily life (cooking/preparing food, making clothes, bathing) such as woven baskets, stone hearths, grindstones, sewing needles, etc. All of the artifacts found are useful because

Over 99% of human history occurred during prehistoric cultures, who had no system of writing or method or chronicling events. This left very little written record or accounts of what transpired that might be studied today. This lack of evidence made it very difficult to learn about previous civilizations and cultures and how they came to be, thrive, and eventually fall. With no written record, we had to rely on archaeology to investigate the whole of human history. While many of our species’ milestones occurred in prehistoric times, it became more and more important for the field of archaeology to advance and be taken seriously. All of this is interesting, but let’s take a look into a specific place and time to expand upon what

In Reading the Past, Ian Hodder argues that Processual, or New, Archaeology is flawed and that we must look at approaches used before its adoption and integrate parts of those approaches into the study of archaeology. He points out that Symbols in Action helped him to develop three ideas regarding how to do this. First, we must consider that material culture has meaning. Second, that the individual is important to the development of theory in archaeology; and finally that archaeology is most closely related to history and should consider that in its approach.

On May 9th, 2016, the Boston University Archaeology Department held a public outreach event called, “Eating Archaeology”, where guests were served foods from four different time periods and places: Bronze-age Mycenae, Bronze-age China, Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, specifically the Aztecs, and mid-19th century Boston. The creation of these dishes was made possible through analyzing archaeological sites through the lens of the newly popularized sub-field, archaeology of the senses, which studies how the materiality of the world contributes to and is influenced by how humans use their senses (Hamilakis 4). Through analyzing the bodily senses, archaeologists can create a more detailed interpretation of the experiences of ancient humans (Hamilakis i). This new interest in the sensory aspect of human culture brings a fascination with the types of foods that people consumed in the past. With this in mind, a group of graduate students in the fields of archaeology, food history, and gastronomy, at Boston University, collaborated to test if material remains can be used to recreate ancient recipes. Through eating these foods, one can glimpse a part of the culture that ate the dish, illustrating the power of taste, and demonstrating that archaeology can be used to create something tangible for the public. This paper will focus on the research process for the mid-19th century brothel site, located in Boston, and how the materials gathered during excavation were used to reconstruct the

Throughout history seemingly unrelated objects or ideas can be brought together and connected in the most extraordinary ways. Many philosophers believe that everything in the world is connected and intertwined in some way, shape, or form. These principles can be applied to many subjects including archaeology. The scene of Ajax on the Francois krater can be linked to Polyklietos’s Doryphoros by applying them both to the fundamentals of evolution.

Archaeology offers us a very unique perspective on human history and their culture which has contributed immensely to our understanding of both the ancient and the recent past. Archaeology helps us to understand not only when and where people lived on this earth but also why and how they lived. It examines the changes and causes of changed which have occurred in human cultures over time, it seeks patterns and explanations of patterns which explain everything from how and when people first came to inhabit this world. (What is Archaeology, 2016)

Cultural Anthropologists study living people, as Katherine A. Dettwyler states in her book Cultural Anthropology & Human Experience, that cultural archeologists study “what humans do,” “why they do it”, and “what the consequences are.” As a person who constantly analyzes every

Archaeology looks at the whole of human history and prehistory. It is widely accepted that this period of time spans millions of years, which archaeologists have been able to interpret through the artifacts, ecofacts, and features which humankind has left behind in their millions of years of evolution and development. While it may seem like this view is far too broad to succinctly discuss the history of our species, every year, which archaeologists have catalogued helps the rest of the world to understand not just our past, but also our present and future. This long view of history is a relevant and useful way of looking at our history through an archaeological lens because archaeology can tell us where we are from, where we are going, and our cultural heritage.