Who Wants to be an Archaeologist

1
Who Wants to be an Archaeologist?

• Archaeology is scientific.
• Archaeology is mysterious.
• Archaeology is exciting.
• Archaeology is challenging.

2
What is archeology?

• the study of past human cultures by analyzing the
  material remains (sites and artifacts) that
  people left behind.

3
What is an archeologist?

• They are like detectives!
• They discover things in the ground that give us
  clues to the past

4
How do archaeologists study the past?

• They dig into the ground to find artifacts
• Digging into the ground to uncover artifacts is
  called excavation
• Artifacts are objects found in the ground that
  give clues to the past
• Over 500,000 artifacts were found at the site of
  Jamestown

5
Archeological Digging

• Archeologists lay out a grid system of squares so
  that they can record where they found each
  artifact

6
Excavation Diggin Deep!

• Digging into the ground to uncover artifacts is
  called excavation
• Excavation destroys an archeological place, so
  archeologists are very careful about how and
  where they dig.

7
What do they do once they find artifacts?

• They record where and when they found it
• They photograph the artifact
• Artifacts are washed, numbered, catalogued into a
  computer, and carefully stored

8
Artifacts

• Archaeologists rarely find whole objects buried
  in the ground.
• Archaeologists usually uncover broken pieces of
  pottery and glass, among many other objects. 
• Archeology is like a big puzzle!

9
How else do archeologists study the past?
Artifacts
Ancient writing (ex. Hieroglyphics)
Primary sources, Records, Maps
Soil stains
Excavating ruins
Stratigraphy