Principles of Archaeology: Process of Archaeology

MODULE #4: PROCESS OF ARCHAEOLOGY

2-3 hours

A. Overview: In this module the student will learn about the process of archaeological research which begins with a research design, proceeds to data collection, analysis, interpretation, and ultimately publication of the results. We will discuss the components of the archaeological record which comprise the material remains of human behavior and define association and context, critical to understanding time and space in human culture.

B. Objectives:

1. Describe the process of archaeological research.
2. Identify archaeological data sets.
3. Explore archaeological context, time and space, and preservation conditions.

C. Principles:

1. Stewardship: issues related to looting and disturbance of archaeological sites and destruction of context
2. Basic archaeological skills: identification of key elements of archaeological data sets.
3. Real world problem solving: how to conduct research

D. Instructional Procedures: This module is primarily lecture and student activity. Throughout the lecture, students are asked questions to ensure they are grasping the concepts introduced. It is important to tie in real world experiences to the content, so the questions ask the students to think of some of the concepts in the context of today’s world. Powerpoint is useful to help identify concepts but the lecture can be taught with traditional technology (whiteboard, etc.).

E. Assessment: Students will be assessed be introduced to an online excavation and review sampling and research design.

F. Lecture Outline:

1. Process of archaeological research
2. Research design

a. Scope of research
b. Developing research designs
c. Analogy: direct historic analogies, functionalist, ethnographic, experimental archaeology
d. Data sampling
e. Research stages: formulation of research design, implementation, data gathering, data processing, analysis, interpretation, publication
f. Ethics

3. Data acquisition: background research, survey, excavation
4. What is archaeological data

a. Behavioral processes: acquisition, manufacture, use, deposition
b. Transformational processes: changes by natural agents or changes caused by human activity
c. Define artifacts
d. Define features
e. Define and give examples of sites: habitation, kill, gathering, underwater, ceremonial, burial, quarry, art, etc.
f. Define ecofacts
g. Define context
h. Define association
i. Activity: bring artifacts into classroom for students to see, touch, and associate with activities

5. Data Analysis
6. Interpretation
7. Archaeological research projects-provide examples of local projects
8. Publication and curation
9. Preservation conditions: Florida bog, Ozette, Chinchorro, Peruvian mummy, Pompeii

G. Activities: Introduce Excavating Occaneechi Town; review section on sampling and research design http://www.ibiblio.org/dig/index.html

H. Readings: Fagan: pages 34-60
http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/shipwrecks/
http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/dept/d10/asb/learning/archy/exploration/index.html