Question

Archaeology is the scientific study of the remains of past human culture. Archaeologists investigate the

lives of early people by studying the objects those people: left behind. Such objects include buildings.

artwork, tools, bones and pottery Archeologists may make exciting discoveries, such as a tomb filled

with gold or the ruins of a magnificent temple in the midst of a jungle. However, the discovery of a

few stone tools or grains of hardened corn may reveal even more about early people.

2. Archaeological research is the chief method available for leaning about societies that existed before

the invention of writing about 5,000 years ago. It also provides an important supplement to our

knowledge of ancient societies that left written records. In America, archaeology is considered

a branch of anthropology, the scientific study of humanity and human culture. European archaeologists,

however, think of their work as closely related to the field of history. Archaeology differs from: history

in that historians mainly study the lives of people as recorded in written documents. Archaeologists

look for information about how, where, and when cultures developed. Like other social scientists, they

search for reasons why major changes have occurred in certain cultures. Some archaeologists try to

understand why ancient people stopped hunting and started farming Others develop theories about what

caused people to build cities and to set up trade routes. In addition some archaeologists look for reasons

behind the fall of such early civilizations as the Maya in Central America and the Romans in Europe.

3. Archaeologists examine any evidence that can help them explain how people lived in past times. Such

evidence ranges from the ruins of a large city to a few stone flakes left by someone making a stone tool

long age.

4. The three basic kinds of archaeological evidence are artefacts, features and ecofacts. Artefacts ate

objects that were made by people and can be moved without altering their appearance. Artefacts include

objects like arrowheads, pots and beads Artefacts from a society with a written history may also include

clay tablets and other written records Features consist mainly of houses, tombs, irrigation canals and

other large structures built by ancient peoples. Unlike artefacts, features cannot be separated from

their surroundings without charging their form. Ecofacts reveal how ancient people responded to their

surroundings. Examples of ecofacts include seeds and animal bones. Any place where archaeological

evidence is found is called an archaeological site. To understand the behaviour of the people who

occupied a site, archaeologists must study the relationship among the artefacts, features and ecofacts

found there. For example, the discovery of stone spearheads near the bones of an extinct kind of

buffalo at a site in New Mexico stowed that early human beings had hunted buffalo in that area.

5. If objects are buried deep in the ground, their position in the earth also concerns archaeologists. The

scientists study the layers of soil and rock in which objects are found to understand the conditions that

existed when the objects were placed there. In some places, archaeologists find many levels of deposits

called strata. The archaeological study of strata, called stratigraphy. developed from the study of rock

layers in geology. Archaeologists use special techniques and equipment to gather archaeological

evidence precisely and accurately. They also keep detailed records of their findings because much

archaeological research destroys the remains being studied. Locating sites is the first job of the

archaeologist. Sites may be above ground, underground or underwater. Some large sites are located

easily because they are clearly visible or can be traced from descriptions in ancient stories or other

historical records. Such sites include the pyramids of Egypt and the ancient city of Athens in Greece.

6. Archaeologists use systematic methods of discovering sites. The traditional way to find all the sites in a

region is through a foot survey. In this method, archaeologists space themselves at measured distances

and walk in preset directions. Each person looks for archaeological evidence while walking forward.

Scientific methods are used to help discover underground sites. Aerial photography, for example, can

reveal variations in vegetation that indicate the presence of archaeological evidence. Archaeologists​

Answer 1

Answer:

Archaeologists study past human activity by excavating, dating and interpreting objects and sites of historical interest. They implement excavation projects, informally known as digs, preserve archaelogical remains and collect data that informs their understanding of the past.