What is a hypothesis in Archaeology?

What is a hypothesis in Archaeology?

archaeology.” Hempel (1966: 15) defines hypotheses as. any “guesses at the interconnections that. might obtain between the phenomena under. study, at uniformities and patterns that might.

What do you mean by archaeological evidence?

There are two basic types of archaeological evidence which indicate the presence of an archaeological site, artifacts and features: Artifacts are defined as any portable object made and/or used by humans. Features are defined as non-portable evidence of past human behavior, activity, and technology.

What do archaeological evidence tell us about culture?

The goal of archaeology is to understand how and why human behavior has changed over time. Archaeologists search for patterns in the evolution of significant cultural events such as the development of farming, the emergence of cities, or the collapse of major civilizations for clues of why these events occurred.

Why are archaeological sites important?

What are archaeological sites and why are they important? Archaeological sites on the public lands throughout North America provide solid evidence of a story spanning thousands of years. An archaeological site is a vault filled with historical and cultural artifacts with valuable information.

What can the archaeological record tell us about human prehistory?

The archaeological record provides a unique, long-term view of the evolution of human behavior. The study of human evolution includes an examination of the physical, genetic, and behavioral variation of the hominin lineage since we diverged from other apes some seven million years ago or more.

What is meant by archaeological?

1 : the scientific study of material remains (such as tools, pottery, jewelry, stone walls, and monuments) of past human life and activities. 2 : remains of the culture of a people : antiquities the archaeology of the Incas.

What are some Archaeology tools?

What Tools Are Used in Archaeological Digs?

• Surveying Transit. The surveying transit resembles a small telescope and is mounted on a tripod.
• String and Stakes.
• Shovels.
• Mason’s Trowel and Small Pickaxe.
• Garden Clippers and Small Saws.
• Brushes.
• Paper and Plastic Bags.
• Buckets, Dustpans, Wheelbarrows.

How are archaeological excavations conducted?

Techniques used to find a site may include remote sensing (for example, by aerial photography), soil surveys, and walk-through or surface surveys. The digging of shovel tests, augured core samples and, less commonly, trenches may also be used to locate archaeological sites.

How long is an archaeological season?

A single season can be anywhere from one week to a couple of months; it’s rare for an excavation season to last longer than that.

What is the process of archaeological research?

The majority of research on an archaeological project actually takes place after the excavation — when the data recovered in the field is taken to the lab to be cleaned, described, identified and then analyzed (interpreted) for its insights into the past.

What is an archaeological season?

Archaeology Season stretched from the Spring through the Fall and offered plenty of opportunities for the public to get involved through visiting excavations in progress, attending presentations on important sites, artifact identification days, and other events.

What are the main steps in surveying an archaeological site?

During a long-term investigation of a site, archaeologists often revisit and revise these steps many times.

• STEP 1: RESEARCH DESIGN.
• STEP 2: FIELD WORK.
• STEP 3: EXPERIMENTAL ARCHAEOLOGY.
• STEP 4: ANALYSIS.
• STEP 5: INTERPERTATION & OUTREACH.

What is the purpose of an archaeological survey?

Archaeologists conduct surveys to search for particular archaeological sites or kinds of sites, to detect patterns in the distribution of material culture over regions, to make generalizations or test hypotheses about past cultures, and to assess the risks that development projects will have adverse impacts on …

What do you do if you find Archaeology?

Report treasure, wreck material or archaeological finds

1. 1 Check if the item you’ve found is treasure or wreck show. You need to check if what you’ve found counts as treasure or wreck material. Check if your find is treasure.
2. Step 2 Report treasure to the local coroner show. You must report treasure to the local coroner within 14 days of finding it. Find your local coroner.

What happens if you find an artifact?

Taking Artifacts Is Illegal Violations may result in jail time or fines, as well as con- fiscation of equipment. See the Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) at 16 USC 470 § aa-mm and the as- sociated regulations at 43 CFR 7. Besides, collecting artifacts is not the right thing to do.

What happens if you find an ancient artifact?

When an ancient artefact is discovered, such as a coin, brooch or pot, it is still the property of the person who owns the land where it was found. More often, less spectacular finds but which are equally interesting to archaeology, such as copper coins, small bronze brooches, potsherds and flints are picked up.

Is there a requirement to report discoveries of archaeological sites?

In the United States, builders are obligated to report archaeological finds if a project requires a permit, a license, or funding triggering compliance with historic-preservation laws, Cris Kimbrough, PhD, PMP, archaeologist and managing director for CBRE Telecom Advisory Services, said.

Do archaeologists get to keep what they find?

Professional archaeologists do not keep, buy, sell, or trade any artifacts. Quite simply, they don’t get to keep what they find because it doesn’t belong to them. If archaeologists kept what they found, they would be the only ones to know the story behind the object. Archaeologists want to share their discoveries.

Why is ethics important in Archaeology?

Archaeological ethics refers to the moral issues raised through the study of the material past. Archaeologists in the field are required to work towards the preservation and management of archaeological resources, treat human remains with dignity and respect, and encourage outreach activities. …

Who has the right to treasure at archaeological sites?

found after April 1, 1976 are the property of the Crown. The Antiquities Act of 1975 establishes that everything found must be reported to the Ministry of Culture and Heritage within 28 days. Then the The ministry decides what to do with it. If the item was found before 1976, then it belongs to whoever found it.

Is it legal to own artifacts?

While it’s legal to own artifacts, it’s illegal to buy, sell, trade, import, or export burial, sacred or cultural objects, and other historical artifacts that were obtained by violating laws against digging on sites, collecting on public lands without a permit, or disturbing graves.