The Work of the Archaeologist PDF
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Summary
This document details the work of an archaeologist, from finding sites and excavating them, to dealing with finds, dating techniques, and preservation methods. It covers topics like stratigraphy, dating techniques such as dendrochronology and carbon dating, and preservation methods in various contexts, such as tombs and bogs.
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The Work of the Archaeologist Archaeology is the story of the past from material remains Artefacts are objects made by people Prehistory is the history of people before writing was invented People in History: An Archaeologist at Work Finding the Site Above ground...
The Work of the Archaeologist Archaeology is the story of the past from material remains Artefacts are objects made by people Prehistory is the history of people before writing was invented People in History: An Archaeologist at Work Finding the Site Above ground Below ground 1. By chance 2. Stories from history 3. Aerial photography 4. Underwater evidence Excavating the Site The site is surveyed and drawn accurately A grid of squares is mapped to record findings The topsoil is removed if necessary Trowels are used to dig into the ground Brushes are used to clear objects Sieves recover small artefacts How the findings are dealt with Artefacts, bones or remains re numbered Stored in separate bags Catalogued in a site book or a computer Photos and drawings record the site at each stage and where the objects were found Findings are sorted and investigated in a lab Dating the evidence Stratigraphy Coins Pottery Dendrochronology Carbon dating Pollen analysis How evidence is destroyed By building roads Storms Battles War Volcanoes How evidence is preserved Tombs Deserts Peat bogs Volcanoes Conservation The protection and preservation of ancient objects so that they do not decay
