Questions and Answers
What is Processual (or New) Archaeology known for?
What did Processual Archaeology shift the focus to?
How and why
Match the following features of Processual Archaeology:
Emphasizes evolutionary generalizations = Not historical specifics Seeks universal laws = Theory production Explanation is explicitly scientific = Deductive models Attempts to remain objective = Ethically neutral
Which of the following features does Post-Processual Archaeology reject?
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What is the focus of Animal Bones/Zooarchaeology?
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Processual archaeology aims to be subjective.
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What is the ultimate goal of Pollen Analysis?
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The ultimate objective of the archaeology of subsistence is to reconstruct the ancient ______.
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What methods are used for comparing bone assemblages?
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Ancient diet focuses not only on obtaining food but also on:
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What are low-level theories in archaeology?
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Jerusalem Toilet artifacts show evidence of ______ in ancient times.
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Study Notes
Processual Archaeology
- Developed in the US during the 1960s and 1970s, popularized by Lewis R. Binford.
- Transformed archaeological methods by shifting focus from "what" and "who" to "how" and "why."
Features of Processual Archaeology
- Emphasizes evolutionary generalizations over historical specifics.
- Aims to establish universal laws applicable to human behavior and societies.
- Utilizes explicitly scientific explanations rooted in hard sciences.
- Strives for objectivity and ethical neutrality, separating current politics from the ancient past.
Goals of Processual Archaeology
- Establish scientific theories that can explain cultural evolution akin to Darwin’s natural selection.
- Generate law-like generalizations for understanding modern societies.
Post-Processual Archaeology
- Emerged from critiques by European scholars, notably Ian Hodder, challenging synthetic assumptions of New Archaeology.
- Stresses the importance of human experience and perspectives, emphasizing the question "who" alongside "how" and "why."
Features of Post-Processual Archaeology
- Rejects cultural evolutionary generalizations, citing biases and racism.
- Denies the search for universal laws of human behavior.
- Criticizes early processual methods for adhering too rigidly to scientific protocols.
- Advocates for empathetic and subjective interpretations of the past.
Theoretical Framework
- Low-level theories focus on basic archaeological observations, the foundational data.
- High-level theories encompass overarching research strategies.
- Middle-range theories connect low-level data with high-level theoretical frameworks to relate archaeological facts to behavioral theories.
Ancient Diet
- Aims to reconstruct ancient diets and understand food acquisition techniques.
- Diet and nutrition analysis is distinct from subsistence studies.
Subsistence and Diet
- Archaeologists examine material remains from ancient subsistence activities.
- Collaboration with specialists (botanists, ecologists) is essential for comprehensive understanding.
- Common findings: environmental data, animal and plant remains, human bones, feces, artifacts, and rock art.
Jerusalem Toilet Findings
- Dated to 586 BCE, contained parasites like tapeworm and whipworm linked to unsanitary practices and famine.
- Indicated a diet lacking in wheat and cereals, focusing instead on weeds and backyard plants.
Zooarchaeology
- A niche field studying animal bones in archaeological contexts, requiring backgrounds in paleontology or zoology.
- Employed methods like wet-sieving and dry-sieving for bone and botanical remains.
Comparing Bone Assemblages
- Number of Identified Specimens (NISP) reflects countable bone fragments.
- Minimum Number of Individuals (MNI) estimates the least number of individuals represented by the bones.
Pollen Analysis
- Also known as palynology, utilized to study ancient environments and human impact on vegetation.
- Involves collecting samples, examining them microscopically, counting grain types, and conducting statistical analysis.
Climate Change
- Distinction between long-term climatic changes (millennial-scale shifts) and short-term events (floods, droughts).
- Both have significant influences on human adaptation and survival strategies.
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Description
This quiz covers key concepts from Lecture 10 on Processual and Post-Processual Archaeology. It focuses on the evolution of archaeological thought introduced in the 1960s by Lewis R. Binford and explores how these perspectives changed the approach to archaeological study. Test your knowledge on the defining features and impacts of these movements.
