Techniques used in excavation and reconstruction of ancient sites.
Stratigraphy: The study of layers of soil and sediment to determine the age and location of artifacts and structures.
Geophysical survey methods: The use of tools such as magnetometers, ground-penetrating radar, and electrical resistivity to identify sub-surface features without excavation.
Excavation techniques: The methods used to systematically uncover and record artifacts and structures from a site.
Survey methods: The techniques used to locate, document, and analyze archaeological sites within a landscape.
Chronology: The study of the sequence of events in the past, and the methods used to establish the relative and absolute dates of archaeological finds.
Material culture analysis: The examination of artifacts, architecture, and other physical remains that reveal information about past human behavior, beliefs, and social structures.
Archaeological theory: The study of the underlying principles and frameworks that guide archaeological research and interpretation.
Ethnoarchaeology: The study of living peoples and their material culture to gain insight into past behavior and technology.
Zooarchaeology: The study of animal bones and other fauna to understand past human-environment interactions, subsistence practices, and cultural beliefs.
Paleoethnobotany: The study of plant remains found in archaeological sites to understand past agricultural systems, culinary practices, and cultural beliefs.
Palaeopathology: The study of ancient diseases and injuries to gain insights into past health and lifestyles.
Spatial analysis: The use of geographic information systems (GIS) and other methods to analyze the distribution of artifacts and features in space and time.
Digital archaeology: The use of digital technologies such as 3D scanning, photogrammetry, and virtual reality to visualize and analyze archaeological data.
Conservation and preservation: The principles and practices that enable the long-term preservation and management of archaeological sites and collections.
Cultural heritage management: The principles and methods used to balance the preservation and scientific study of cultural heritage with development and tourism.
Excavation: This involves digging and uncovering archaeological sites in order to collect artifacts and other important data.
Stratigraphy: The study of the different layers of soil and sediment at an archaeological site. This helps archaeologists understand how and when different cultural layers were deposited.
Dating: Archaeologists use a variety of dating techniques to determine the age of artifacts and other archaeological finds.
Analysis: Archaeologists use a variety of analytical techniques to study artifacts and other finds. This includes chemical analysis, forensic analysis, and more.
Survey: This involves mapping and gathering data in a particular area, typically by walking or flying over the area and taking photos or other measurements.
Geophysics: This involves the use of technology such as ground-penetrating radar, magnetometry, and electrical resistance to map the sub-surface of an archaeological site.
Ethnoarchaeology: This involves studying modern-day peoples and cultures in order to gain insight into how ancient peoples may have lived and constructed their societies.
Experimental archaeology: This involves testing different hypotheses through reenactments or experiments in order to better understand how ancient people may have lived and interacted with their environment.
Preservation: Archaeologists work to preserve and protect archaeological sites and artifacts for future generations.
Documentation: This involves recording and documenting archaeological finds in order to share knowledge and insights with other archaeologists and the general public.