The Historian
Sources
The Archaeologist
Excavations
Methods for assessing archaeological finds
100

What is the study of the past called?

history

100

Here is a list of sources - which of these are primary and which are secondary?
Photo
Diary
Website
Podcast
Newspaper
Documentary
Artefact

Photo -primary
Diary -primary
Website -secondary
Podcast -secondary
Newspaper -primary
Documentary -secondary
Artefact -primary

100

Define archaeology

the study of the remains left by people in the past

100

Before a full excavation takes place, what must be done to see if there is anything worthwhile on the site

Dig a test trench

100

What is it called when archaeologists use a machine to take an x-ray of the ground to see what structures may be below the ground

geo-physical surveying

200

What is the time before writing

prehistory

200

Is this propaganda or bias?

Information that has been designed to influence the attitudes and behaviours of the general public

Propaganda
200

Before you build a building or road, you have to check to see if there are artefacts that would be lost forever - what is this called?

Rescue archaeology

200

What is removed at the start of the excavation

Topsoil

200
When completing pollen analysis, an archaeologist measures how much pollen was left from once-growing things at a site. How is this useful for archaeologists?

It can tell you what was growing at a specific time. So, you can see if there were people farming, and when that started in different locations. Also, you can see what people were farming at different times.

300

A historical repository that catalogues and stores a collection of written and other sources - what's this called?

archive

300

What's it called when you put events in the sequence in which they happened? (NOT TIMELINE)

Chronology

300

This is a photograph taken of the ground from an elevated position. It helps you see potential sites to excavate. This is called...

aerial photograph

300

What tools are used to dig at an excavation site and why?

Shovels, trowels, brushes
to gently remove soil from the artefact

300

Stratigraphy tell us what information about artefacts found during digs?

How old it is - the farther down the object is found, the older it is.

400

a historical repository that collects and displays objects for public education and appreciation - what's this called?

museum

400

Whats the difference between a biography and an autobiography

an autobiography is an account of a person's life written by that person

a biography is an account of a person's life written by another

400

If you look for information about a potential site for excavation by doing to archives and looking through documents, you are doing...

research archaeology

400

When an object is found and before it is removed from the ground, what must be done

the object is photographed and its position recorded

400

Dendrochronology uses what to help archaeologists date artefacts?

The unique growth pattern of tree rings.

Archaeologists have a continuous record of tree rings going back thousands of years, which the artefact could be compared to.

500

What is an official survey of the population called?

census

500

Define primary source

a source from the time in question, a first-hand account of what happened

500

What conditions help preserve artefacts in the ground from decay for long periods of time

Heat
No air

500

Where do most objects found on an excavation end up?

- Laboratory for preservation and testing
- Museum for public display

500

What information about a person could their bones tell you? Give at least 3 things.

Skull - what the person looked like
Pelvis - gender
Thigh - height
General skeleton - health, whether the person died by violence
Teeth - age
Skin/ hair - diet

600
In which centuries are the following years?

- 750
- 1572
- 2022

- 8th
- 16th
- 21st

600

Define secondary source

a source from a later date, after the time in question

600

What is it called when a scientist tries to make sure that a found artefact doesn't decay.

Conservation
600

Define artefact

any human-made object

600

Explain how Carbon-14 dating/ radio carbon dating works

The carbon 14 in an object is measured. The less carbon 14 found, the older the object is. This only works for once-living things (people, animal skin etc.)