application activity: on evidence
The focus of Chapter 2 is evidence: what's left and why things survive. In this exercise, you will observe the archaeological record in the process of being formed and consider what will survive in a hypothetical scenario.
Pick an outdoor location where much human activity occurs. The location should be no larger than approximately 25 x 25 feet. It will be best if the location is not regularly cleaned and maintained (so don't use a high-traffic maintained areas such as in front of the library). Observe what occurs there for at least 15 minutes. Then, answer the following questions about what you have observed.
1. In a sentence or two describe where, what, and when you are making your observation.
2. Make a list of a minimum of 20 artifacts, ecofacts, and features at your site (20 total--not 20 artifacts, 20 ecofacts, 20 features). Label each as either an artifact, ecofact, or feature. These terms are defined and discussed in Chapter 2. In some cases it will be difficult to determine if something is an ecofact or feature in a fully human-modified environment (so don't get stuck on getting all classifications correct). Organize these data in a table.
3. Describe a feature identified above without saying what it is. For example, if there is a bench in your activity area don't list it as a bench but describe the physical characteristics (e.g., size, materials) of the bench assuming you don't know what it is. Archaeologists often find features without knowing what we are seeing or the function of the feature.
4. Pick one artifact, ecofact, and feature at your site. Describe the context, association, matrix, and provenience of each artifact, ecofact, and feature you selected. You don't need to measure the provenience; a general description will do. Use the terms "context," "association," "matrix," and "provenience" in your answers or create a table with separate columns for each.
5. Based only on your list of artifacts, ecofacts, and features, what human activities do you infer occurred at your site? If you actually observed human activities on your site, do they match the activities you inferred? If not, why not? If so, why?
6. Imagine the location you are observing ceases to be a locus of human activity. Further imagine you are leading a team of archaeologists to return to the site 100 and 500 years later. Using what you have learned in the textbook about "natural formation processes" and "cultural formation processes,":
a) describe what you expect to remain and why after 100 years
b) describe what you expect to remain and why after 500 years
Provide separate descriptions for what you expect to remain at 100 and 500 years. Identify and differentiate between the natural and cultural processes that would influence what remains, and provide examples of each process. Start with definitions of natural and cultural formation processes and write a multi-sentence paragraph to answer this question. Use the terms "natural formation processes" and "cultural formation processes" in your description of what you expect to find.
Label each response with the question number above. Please type (12 point font) and double-space your responses. Thoughtful responses will require at least one full page to answer all questions but please do not write more than three pages. Please save as a Microsoft Word document or pdf and upload on Blackboard. Have fun!
Assessment criteria click here.
Pick an outdoor location where much human activity occurs. The location should be no larger than approximately 25 x 25 feet. It will be best if the location is not regularly cleaned and maintained (so don't use a high-traffic maintained areas such as in front of the library). Observe what occurs there for at least 15 minutes. Then, answer the following questions about what you have observed.
1. In a sentence or two describe where, what, and when you are making your observation.
2. Make a list of a minimum of 20 artifacts, ecofacts, and features at your site (20 total--not 20 artifacts, 20 ecofacts, 20 features). Label each as either an artifact, ecofact, or feature. These terms are defined and discussed in Chapter 2. In some cases it will be difficult to determine if something is an ecofact or feature in a fully human-modified environment (so don't get stuck on getting all classifications correct). Organize these data in a table.
3. Describe a feature identified above without saying what it is. For example, if there is a bench in your activity area don't list it as a bench but describe the physical characteristics (e.g., size, materials) of the bench assuming you don't know what it is. Archaeologists often find features without knowing what we are seeing or the function of the feature.
4. Pick one artifact, ecofact, and feature at your site. Describe the context, association, matrix, and provenience of each artifact, ecofact, and feature you selected. You don't need to measure the provenience; a general description will do. Use the terms "context," "association," "matrix," and "provenience" in your answers or create a table with separate columns for each.
5. Based only on your list of artifacts, ecofacts, and features, what human activities do you infer occurred at your site? If you actually observed human activities on your site, do they match the activities you inferred? If not, why not? If so, why?
6. Imagine the location you are observing ceases to be a locus of human activity. Further imagine you are leading a team of archaeologists to return to the site 100 and 500 years later. Using what you have learned in the textbook about "natural formation processes" and "cultural formation processes,":
a) describe what you expect to remain and why after 100 years
b) describe what you expect to remain and why after 500 years
Provide separate descriptions for what you expect to remain at 100 and 500 years. Identify and differentiate between the natural and cultural processes that would influence what remains, and provide examples of each process. Start with definitions of natural and cultural formation processes and write a multi-sentence paragraph to answer this question. Use the terms "natural formation processes" and "cultural formation processes" in your description of what you expect to find.
Label each response with the question number above. Please type (12 point font) and double-space your responses. Thoughtful responses will require at least one full page to answer all questions but please do not write more than three pages. Please save as a Microsoft Word document or pdf and upload on Blackboard. Have fun!
Assessment criteria click here.