Archeology

Can also be spelled: Archaeology

What is archeology?

Sub field of cultural anthropology– Sometimes kept separate from culture & physical

Search for artifacts – Any object fashioned or altered by humans

Finding A Site

Aerial PhotographyVegetation PatternsSoil MarksEthnohistorical dataNatural processes– Erosion, drought, hurricanes

ConstructionAccident

Aerial photography

Pueblo site

Aerial Photography & Vegetation

Wooden walled structure

What next?

Set up a grid systemEstablish Datum pointCAREFULLY, excavate

Stratigraphy

Items near the surface are newer than stuff further away from the surfaceThe deeper you go, the further back in time you go.

Stratigraphy

Excavation

This is a very slow processCarefully excavate a level area about 10 centimeters at a timeTools: Trowels – sifters – large shovel (rarely)If you find an artifact, carefully excavate– Sometimes with a paintbrush

Watch for soil marks

Soil Stains

Cultural Resource Management

Government required activitiesThey want to do a project (highway, building), they have to see if it will impact any sitesIf a site is identified, they will excavate or protect

Kennewick Man

9300 year old remains found in Washington found in 1996Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990Who owns this find– Research?– Returned to tribes?

Kennewick Man

Embedded stone tool

Wisconsin Archeology

Found along water waysLongest running archeology publication in North AmericaMammoth butchery sitesMany mounds sites– High Cliff– Aztalan (between Milwaukee and Madison)

High Cliff State Park

Effigy mounds– Means they are in the shape of animals or people– Man mounds are very rare

High Cliff has:– Bear– Panther– Conical/linear

Aztalan

Large settlement site 1000-1250Obvious social stratification– Wealthy elite/peasants

Farming: corn, beans, squashLarge platform moundsStockade surrounding village areaTrade ties with Cahokia (St. Louis)

                                                                                                            

                   

Our Past Digs

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TAKE ANTHROPOLOGYYOU GET TO DIG HOLES!

Our Past Digs

WEST