Ancient Lives : An Introduction to Archaeology and Prehistory

by Fagan, Brian M.

• ISBN13: 9780131115538
• ISBN10: 0131115537
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-01-01
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Summary

This wide-ranging introduction to the most fundamental principles, methods, and theoretical approaches of archaeology, combined with coverage of the major developments of human prehistory, is a book for complete beginners. Using first-person experience, a conversational narrative, and unique, truly global coverage reflected in examples from all parts of the world, it paints acompelling portrait of archaeology, science, and the past.The first half of the book covers the basic principles, methods and theoretical approaches of archaeology. The second half is summary of the major developments of human prehistory: the origins of humankind and the archaic world, the origins and spread of modern humans, the emergence of food production, and the beginnings of civilizationWritten for people who want to know more about archaeology and prehistory, not necessarily with a view to becoming a professional archaeologist.

Table of Contents

Preface

Authors Note

About the Author

Introducing Archaeology and Prehistory

How Archaeology Began

The Discovery of Early Civilizations Discovery

Austen Henry Layard at Nineveh

The Antiquity of Humankind

The Origins of Scientific Archaeology

Archaeology and Prehistory

Doing Archaeology: A Short Guide to Archaeological

Diversity Prehistory and World Prehistory

Major Developments in Human Prehistory

Why Are Archaeology and World Prehistory Important?

Mysteries of the Past Doing Archaeology: Pseudoarchaeology, or You, Too, Can Be an Armchair Indiana Jones!

The Powerful Lure of the Past Archaeology and Human Diversity

Archaeology as a Political Tool Archaeology and Economic Development

Garbology Who Needs the Past?

Site: Inyan Ceyaka Atonwan, Minnesota

Summary

Critical Thinking

Questions

Key Terms and Sites

The Record of the Past

The Goals of Archaeology Constructing Culture History Discovery

The Folsom Bison Kill Site, New Mexico Reconstructing Ancient Lifeways Site

The Ain Ghazal Figurines Explaining Cultural Change Doing Archaeology

An Archaeologists Ethical Responsibilities Research Design Data Acquisition Analysis Interpretation Publication and Curation What Is Culture?

The Archives of the Past

The Archaeological Record Preservation Conditions A Waterlogged Site

Ozette, Washington A Dry Site

Puruchucho-Huaquerones, Peru Cold Conditions

Nevado Ampato, Peru Volcanic Ash

Ceren, El Salvador Context Discovery

Tragedy at Ceren, El Salvador Time and Space

The Law of Association

The Law of Superposition

Summary

Critical Thinking

Questions

Key Terms and Sites

Acquiring the Record Discovery

Recording the Behistun Inscription, Iran How Do You Find Archaeological Sites?

Accidental Discoveries Deliberate Survey Settlement Patterns and Settlement Archaeology Site

Teotihuacin, Mexico Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) How Do You Dig Up the Past?

The Ethical Responsibilities of the Excavator Research Design and Problem-Oriented Excavation Koster Doing Archaeology

Archaeological Sites Types of Excavation Excavation as Recording Relative Chronology Chronometric Dating Major Chronological Methods Doing Archaeology

Dating the Past

Summary

Critical Thinking

Questions

Key Terms and Sites

How Did People Live?

Technologies of the Ancients Doing Archaeology

Classifying Artifact Types Stone Doing Archaeology

Lithic Analysis Bone and Antler Wood Clay (Ceramics) Doing Archaeology

Ceramic Analysis Metals and Metallurgy Basketry and Textiles Site

Ancient Wine at Abydos, Egypt Subsistence

Making a Living Doing Archaeology

Studying Ancient Subsistence Animal Bones Plant Remains Doing Archaeology

Flotation Methods Fishing and Fowling Reconstructing Ancient Diet

Summary

Critical Thinking

Questions

Key Terms and Sites

Part 2 Ancient Interactions

Individuals and Interactions Social Ranking Doing Archaeology

The Law Code of Hammurabi of Babylon, 1760 B.C. Site

The Sepulcher of the Maya Lord Pacal, Palenque, Mexic

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts

GOLDEN PHARAOHS, LOST CITIES, GRINNING HUMAN SKELETONS: archaeology is the stuff of romance and legend! Many people still think of archaeologists as adventurers and treasure hunters, like Indiana Jones of, Hollywood movie fame seeking the elusive Holy Grail. These enduring images go back to the late nineteenth century, when archaeologists like Heinrich Schliemann could still find' lost civilizations like Troy and excavate three royal palaces in a week. Today, few, if any, archaeologists are like Indiana Jones. They are scientists, not adventurers, as comfortable in an air-conditioned laboratory as they are on a remote excavation. The development of scientific archaeology from its Victorian beginnings ranks among the greatest triumphs of twentieth-century science. Archaeology has changed our understanding of the human experience in profound ways. A century ago, most scientists believed that humans were no more than 100,000 years old. Today we know that our origins go back 5 million years. Our predecessors assumed that the Americas were settled about 8000 B.C. and that farming began around 4000 B.C. New excavations date the first Americans to at least 12,000 B.C. and the beginnings of agriculture to about 10,000 B.C. Most important of all, archaeology has changed our perceptions of ourselves, our biological and cultural diversity. Welcome to the fascinating world of archaeology and prehistory. Ancient Livesbegan life as a textbook on the basic methods and theories of archaeology, an introduction to the workings of a scientific discipline. This second edition is reborn as an entirely different book, one that combines an exploration of archaeology, the discipline, with a brief narrative of prehistory, what actually happened in the early human past. In short, it has become an archaeology and prehistory text. This book is a celebration of the only scientific discipline that studies human biological and cultural evolution over enormously long periods of time. In these pages, we celebrate more than 2.5 million years of the human past. ABOUTANCIENT LIVES Ancient Livesis divided into two halves, and as if that were not enough, into seven parts as well. The first seven chapters cover the basic methods and theoretical approaches of archaeology. The remainder of the book takes us on a journey through prehistory, from human origins to those dramatic moments when Spanish conquistadors gazed on the Aztec capital in the Valley of Mexico and at the wealth of the Inka civilization in the Andes. The remaining six parts subdivide these broad themes into more manageable chunks. Part 1, "Archaeology: Studying Ancient Times," consists of four chapters. These chapters define archaeology and prehistory, introduce the nature of the archaeological record, discuss the ways in which archaeologists date the past, and examine ancient technology and ways of obtaining food. Part 2, "Ancient Interactions," focuses on people and their interactions, on the study of ancient religious beliefs, and on the all-important topic of explaining the past. With Chapter 8 and Part 3, "The World of the First Humans," we begin our narrative of human prehistory with a discussion of human origins and the spread of archaic peoples out of tropical Africa more than 2 million years ago. We end with an analysis of the controversies surrounding the origins of modern humans--Homo sapiens sapiens,modern humanity, "the wise person." Part 4, "Modern Humans Settle the World," comprises just one chapter, which covers the thousands of years of migration that tookHomo sapiens sapiens,ourselves, from our African homeland into every corner of the Old World, and, after 15,000 years ago, into the Americas. In Part 5, "The First Farmers and Civilizations," we continue the story in the Old World, with the beginnings of farming in southwestern Asia, then, later, in Asia. It was farming that led to the last grea