Uncovering Human History through Archaeology

Archaeology Archaeology is the study of human history. It involves excavating sites and studying buildings and artefacts, which are primary sources of information. The people who do this work are called archaeologists.

Archaeologist An archaeologist does a range of jobs, including researching, digging, describing and classifying. They work like a detective, piecing together evidence to get a clearer picture of the past.

Archaeological sites The first job is to identify a site to excavate! The site will be an area of historical interest. Some archaeological sites, such as Pompeii, are visible at ground level.

Archaeological sites Other archaeological sites are buried deep beneath the ground. An example of this type of site is Tutankhamun s Tomb, Egypt.

Tutankhamuns Tomb This tomb had remained undisturbed at 8 metres below the ground for over 3,000 years, until the archaeologist Howard Carter excavated it in 1922. It took Carter and his team of archaeologists over 15 years to classify the thousands of artefacts they found in Tutankhamun s Tomb.

Excavation When excavating a site, the archaeologist must dig in a slow and systematic way to avoid damaging artefacts buried in the soil.

Archaeological tools They use a range of tools, such as shovels, picks, trowels, sieves and buckets, and smaller items such knives and brushes.

Archaeological discoveries They are really hoping to uncover buried structures, or artefacts such as tools, weapons, pottery, artwork and jewellery.

Artefacts Artefacts help us to understand how people lived in the past. For example, grinding stones provide clues about what people ate and how they prepared their food.

Archaeological collaboration An archaeologist often works closely with other experts, such as a zoologist, a geologist or a botanist to find out what was going on in the past by examining animal remains, soil samples or plant material such as pollen.

Archaeological techniques To work out the age of an object containing organic material such as wood, scientists use a technique called carbon dating.

Archaeology in Ireland There is no shortage of sites of historical interest in Ireland, including passage tombs such as Newgrange in Co. Meath. Did you know that this passage tomb lay buried beneath farmland until it was excavated by archaeologists in the 1960s? Imagine what else is waiting to be uncovered!

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