Archaeologists
What do archaeologists study?
Archaeologists study past human societies through material remains such as artifacts, structures, and biofacts.
What do historians examine to learn about the past?
Historians examine sources such as fossils, bones, books, and ruins.
What is absolute dating?
Absolute dating techniques allow scientists to state the exact age of an object in years.
What is the purpose of stratigraphy?
Stratigraphy determines the relative ages of artifacts based on the layers of earth they are found in.
What significant discovery did Howard Carter make?
Howard Carter discovered the tomb of King Tutankhamun on February 16, 1923.
What is a hypothesis in historical research?
A hypothesis is an opinion about what might have happened based on available evidence.
What is relative dating?
Relative dating determines whether an object is older or younger than another based on its geological context.
How do scientists use fluorine dating?
Fluorine dating assesses how long a bone has been buried based on the amount of fluorine absorbed from the soil.
What is an archaeological dig?
An archaeological dig is a site where archaeologists excavate to find and study past human remains and artifacts.
Why can't historians rely on only one source?
Historians need multiple sources to gather a comprehensive understanding of the past.
Name one absolute dating technique.
Examples include radiocarbon dating and dendrochronology.
What can DNA analysis tell us?
DNA analysis provides information about the type of organism and its genetic relationships.
Name one type of evidence archaeologists uncover.
Examples include human skeletons, pottery, tools, and inscriptions.
How do historians use archival research?
Historians access organized collections of records, such as manuscripts and photographs, to find primary sources.
How does radiocarbon dating work?
Radiocarbon dating measures the amount of C14 in a once-living organism to estimate how long ago it died.
What is ice-core sampling?
Ice-core sampling involves extracting cylinders of ice to gather climate data from trapped air bubbles.
How do archaeologists protect a dig site?
They rope off or mark the site and divide it into grids for careful excavation.
What is oral history?
Oral history is a method of gathering and interpreting personal accounts and memories of past events.
What is dendrochronology?
Dendrochronology is the dating of trees by counting the growth rings in their trunks.
How does palynology contribute to archaeology?
Palynology studies pollen and other organic compounds in soil to understand historical plant life and climate changes.