Archaeology

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.