Archaeology
The study of the past by digging up or excavating the remains of people of the past.
Archaeologist
Someone who studies people of the past from what they have left behind.
Artefact
Man made object.
Site
Area excavated.
Post-hole
Place where a post once stood.
Carbon 14 Dating
Anything that once lived contains carbon 14. After death the carbon slowly leaks away. Consequently, by measuring how much carbon 14 is left archaeologists can determine how old the object is.
Stratigraphy
This involves taking careful note of the layers of soil. If something with a known date, such as a coin, is found at the same level or strata as an object then it can help tell the object's age.
Dendrochronology
This involves the study of tree rings. Each ring represents a year of the tree's growth. By studying these tree rings patterns an archaeologist can learn the date of wooden objects.
Fact
A statement that can be proved.
Opinion
A belief or view about something.
Primary Source
A source that comes directly from the time being studied e.g. a diary.
Secondary Source
A source was was created after an event took place e.g. a movie.
Census
A population count that takes place every ten years.
Bias
One-sided.
Propaganda
The selective use of information to promote a particular idea.
B.C.
Before Christ
A.D.
Anno Domini
Chronological Order
A sequence of events starting with the earliest.
Rescue Excavation
An excavation that takes place before construction work. It is usually subject to time constraints.
Pre-history
The time before the development of writing.