Archaeology: An Introduction
Archeology Free Online Course 1, Lesson 1
Archaeology: An Introduction
Archaeology, archeology, or archæology (from Greek: αρχαιολογία – archaiologia, from αρχαίος – archaios, "primal, ancient, old" and λόγος – logos, "study") is the science that studies human cultures through the recovery, documentation, analysis and interpretation of material remains and environmental data, including architecture, artifacts, features, biofacts, and landscapes. Because archaeology’s aim is to understand mankind, it is a humanistic endeavor.
The goals of archaeology vary, and there is debate as to what its aims and responsibilities are. Some goals include the documentation and explanation of the origins and development of human cultures, understanding culture history, chronicling cultural evolution, and studying human behavior and ecology, for both prehistoric and historic societies. Archaeologists are also concerned with the study of methods used in the discipline, and the theoretical and philosophical underpinnings underlying the questions archaeologists ask of the past. The tasks of surveying areas in order to find new sites, excavating sites in order to recover cultural remains, classification, analysis, and preservation are all important phases of the archaeological process. These are all important sources of information. Given the broad scope of the discipline there is a great deal of cross-disciplinary research in archaeology. It draws upon anthropology, history, art history, classics, ethnology, geography, geology, physics, information sciences, chemistry, statistics, paleoecology, paleontology, paleozoology, paleoethnobotany, paleobotany .
Origins and definitions: In parts of Europe and the Old World, the discipline has its roots in antiquarianism and the study of Latin and Ancient Greek, and so has a natural affinity with the field of history.
Archaeology in ancient China developed from antiquarian pursuits as well, specifically from the scholar-official’s desires to revive the use of ancient relics in state ritual. This pursuit of his Chinese peers was criticized by Shen Kuo (1031–1095), who asserted that archaeology should be the pursuit of studying functionality, discovering the methods of manufacture from ancient times, and should be studied with an interdisciplinary approach. Yet there were others who took the discipline as seriously as Shen; the official, historian, poet, and essayist Ouyang Xiu (1007–1072) compiled an analytical catalogue of ancient rubbings on stone and bronze which pioneered ideas in early epigraphy and archaeology.
In North America archaeology is one of the four sub-fields, or branches of anthropology. The other three branches are cultural anthropology, the study of living cultures and societies; linguistics, the study of language, including the origins of language and language groups; and physical anthropology, includes the study of human evolution and physical and genetic characteristics.
Importance and applicability: Often archaeology provides the only means to learn of the existence and behaviors of people of the past. Across the millennia many thousands of cultures and societies and billions of people have come and gone of which there is little or no written record or existing records are misrepresentative or incomplete. Writing as it is known today did not exist in human civilization until the 4th millennium BC, in a relatively small number of technologically advanced civilizations. In contrast Homo sapiens has existed for at least 200,000 years, and other species of Homo for millions of years (see Human evolution). These civilizations are, not coincidentally, the best-known; they are open to the inquiry of historians for centuries, while the study of pre-historic cultures has arisen only recently. Even within a literate civilization many events and important human practices are not officially recorded. Any knowledge of the early years of human civilization – the development of agriculture, cult practices of folk religion, the rise of the first cities – must come from archaeology.
Even where written records do exist, they are often incomplete and invariably biased to some extent. In many societies, literacy was restricted to the elite classes, such as the clergy or the bureaucracy of court or temple. The literacy even of aristocrats has sometimes been restricted to deeds and contracts. The interests and world-view of elites are often quite different from the lives and interests of the populace. Writings that were produced by people more representative of the general population were unlikely to find their way into libraries and be preserved there for posterity. Thus, written records tend to reflect the biases, assumptions, cultural values and possibly deceptions of a limited range of individuals, usually only a fraction of the larger population. Hence, written records cannot be trusted as a sole source. The material record is closer to a fair representation of society, though it is subject to its own inaccuracies, such as sampling bias and differential preservation.
In addition to their scientific importance, archaeological remains sometimes have political or cultural significance to descendants of the people who produced them, monetary value to collectors, or simply strong aesthetic appeal. Many people identify archaeology with the recovery of such aesthetic, religious, political, or economic treasures rather than with the reconstruction of past societies.
This view is often espoused in works of popular fiction, such as Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Mummy, and King Solomon’s Mines. When such unrealistic subjects are treated more seriously, accusations of pseudoscience are invariably levelled at their proponents. However, these endeavours, real and fictional, are not representative of modern archaeology. [GFDL Source and Copyright]
Archeology Course 1, Lesson 1
Archaeology: An Introduction
Other Important and Related Entries
- Introduction
- Archaeology: An Introduction
- Archeology Course 1
- History of Archaeology
- Academic Sub-disciplines of Archeology
- Cultural Resources Management in Archeology
- Archeology Course 1, Final Test
- Biblical Archeology, Free Course 1, Lesson 2
- Biblical Archeology, Free Course 1, Introduction
- Biblical Archeology Course 1
- Biblical Archeology, Free Course 1, Bible And Archeology
- Biblical Archeology Course 1, Lesson 4
- Biblical Archeology Course 1, Lesson 5
- Archeology Course 2, Lesson 1
- Archeology Course 2
- Archeology Course 2, Lesson 2
- Archeology Course 2, Lesson 3
- Archeology Free Bible School Course 2, Lesson 4
- Biblical Archeology Bible School Course 2, Lesson 1
- Biblical Archeology Course 2
Thank you! I found this website completely by accident! It is very interesting.
This is my first exposure to any formal discussion of archaeology. It seems very exciting, like reconstructing a crime scene years after the event.
Hi i just wanted to ask a question . Is this course recognized in anyway when you finish is it a certificate , and can i get austudy approval do you think in my country . Thank you Anthony Hurry
Hi. Please I would like to know the fianncial implication of the course, Diploma in Archeology.
Thanks.
Theological College of North Nigeria.
I would like to study Bible Archeology in depth. So could you pls tell me if there is anty involved and how much.
Thank you
Frida
Is this course recognized in any way when one is finished? do you get a certificate or diploma when completed?
I am very interested in Biblical Archeology, and would like to take all the courses. Do I need to register? Any recognition when you complete the course? Any charges? Please respond to these inquiries. How do you log in and access the monthly archives?
Thanks.
how do you start with the study
I always found archeology very interesting, and now finding courses on the subject on the internet is great.
This is interesting and helpful, I’m trying to learn more on the subject to see if its something I want to do.
I am interested in becoming a bonfide archeologist. What is the process by which I can enroll in your courses. Thank you .—–Joseph.
Thanks, that i found your web site. Because my interest in this type of subject is larger than our universe. That’s how i compare my interest in archaeological findings. This was my real ambition to be. But during my time, here in the Philppines. I don’t know where to get this degree. It was 1983, in the province when i finished BSME. Which is not my real ambition to be. If i can just roll back time? Well only in my dreams now, that i can relate the ambition i love most. Thanks again sir, for this information from you and your colleages given to me. I’m always here for your interesting information.
Iv’e gone through your web site and found it full of information that I have been looking for. I can’t seem to find a place to register for these courses though. If you could send me any information on how to take these online course, I would greatly appreciate it.
God bless,
-Michael Munday-
Dear Sir
I do so wish to study Biblical Archeology and also bible and science very much.
I too have been though the web site extensively only to find when you apply it gose to Trinity Collage and they only do diplomers in bible study.
Having read much of the articels I feel some what dissapointed that there dosent seem to be a way apply and gain a diploma in this facinating field.
Can any one help?
Regards
Lewis Celnick
THANK you,It is a good briefly introduction, that helps us to know, the definition of the Archeology, as a science, and who begin to practice it.BUT I have a good idea I want to discuss it with you,What about Hil-ki-ah[2 Chronicles 34.14-20]. ..”……………………And Hil-ki-ah answered and said to Sha-phan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord………..etc,And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes…etc.” The brief story of the king Jo-si-ah’s reformation is,:-He wants to repair the Temple’s building, using the precious gifts ,and money , which were kept in the Temple.. The book of the law was kept in somewhere [many theories discuss the place].It was hidden many ,many years,therefore, both the priests, and the kings, behaved wrong behavior,which reflects their ignorance,when Hil-ki-ah found it ,he gave it to Sha-phan who gave it to the king who shocked by the influence of the word ,and it became at last ,the source of his reformation movement.CAN WE CONSEDER HIL-KI-AH WHO WAS PRIOR THAN SHEN KUE[1031-1095] TO BE THE FIRST ARCHEOLOGIST? Rev. Joseph
I never come across with this informative information about archeology, its real useful and i will continue to learn more so as to familiarize myself with the biblical truth available thanks.
This is great, I have loved Archaeology for most of my life but never studied it. I lived as a child in Israel in 1954-1956. 2 years ago my husband and I revisited Israel and I loved all the new places and things discovered. I want to take the courses just for my own information.
Very fasinating and informative site. Do have any opportunities for digs or explorations for the novice?
Willing to spend a summer vacation and pay own costs while getting some practical experience, or visiting a site.
i have keen interest in archaeology.
Please give me a chance.