Post on 18-Dec-2015
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
Stratigraphy
Items near the surface are newer than stuff further away from the surfaceThe deeper you go, the further back in time you go.
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
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?
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)