...are methods in which archeologists utilize chemistry and physics to determine the ages of a particular piece of material, artifact, or cultural remains. Some of absolute dating techniques are radiocarbon dating, dendrochronology, and potassium-argon dating. Radiocarbon dating is one of the most widely used techniques. This method is used to determine the age of organic substances such as bone, charcoal, shell, or wood by measuring the amount of the carbon isotope, carbon-14, remaining in them. The technique focuses on carbon-14, an unsteady radioactive isotope of carbon, which decays away at a steady rate. Organisms seize a certain amount of carbon-14 from the atmosphere when they are alive. By measuring the ratio of the radio isotope to non-radioactive carbon, the amount of carbon-14 decay can be calculated, thus giving an age for the material in question. Radiocarbon dating is usually used for determining ages up to about 50,000 years old, because dating older materials is much less accurate with this method. The relationship between the age estimates, also known as radiocarbon years and calendar years varies through time. Due to the distinctive variation in the richness of the radioactive isotope, carbon-14, archeologists must adjust the radiocarbon dates using sets of dates obtained from tree rings in the trunks of very long-lived tree species like the bristlecone pine to bring the radiocarbon years and calendar year to agreement. Dendrochronology is a method of dating...
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...Justin Kruczek 830793223 Paper 1 Residential Burial Sites Residential Burial Sites Upon conducting my research, I found multiple sites that I will be referencing in my paper. The main purpose of this paper is to inform people about the residential burial methods used in Thailand and Coastal Oaxaca, Mexico. In one of the articles I found it describes residential burials by saying, “Residential burial” or “intramural burial” has often been used to denote subfloor or other types of burials within residential structures, such as those within structure walls. (Residential Burial in Global Perspective Ron L. Adams Simon Fraser University and Stacie M. King Indiana University, PG. 3) This is to give a basic idea on what will be further discussed in this paper. In the article that was found, there were multiple burial sites where archeologists found remains and burial methods all over Thailand. These places in Thailand where they found these residential burial sites are, “The mortuary remains from most of these low mound sites including Ban Kao (Sørensen 1967), Non Nok Tha (Bayard 1984, 1996–97), Ban Na Di (Higham and Kijngam 1984a, 1984b, 1984c), Khok Phanom Di (Higham and Thosarat 1994:23), Nong Nor (Higham and Thosarat 1998), Ban Wang Hai (Pautreau et al. 2001), Ban Lum Khao (Higham and O’Reilly 2004:301), Noen U-Loke (Talbot 2007:305), and Ban Non Wat (Higham 2008, 2009a; Higham and Thosarat 2006), have all been discussed explicitly in terms of being “cemeteries” (Residential...
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...It measures how much the sample has loss of the radiation, Carbon-14, that has built up over the sample’s lifetime and compares it to a sample that is currently alive. The amount of Carbon-14 in an artifact is related to its age by how much Carbon-14 it has in its build-up. Organisms collect Carbon-14 as they live and when they die, the gathering of Carbon-14 is stopped. Archeologists can also estimate the age of an organism by the Carbon-14’s half life of 5,730 years, so if it has about half of the amount of Carbon-14 as the living things around it, then the archeologist can state the organism is 5,730 years old. In conclusion, by figuring out the exact amount of Carbon-14 in a sample, the amount can show an extremely close number of the sample’s creation date. Carbon-14 is produce when subatomic particles from the sun smash into the Nitrogen-14 from the Earth’s uppermost atmosphere and creates Carbon-14. When the subatomic particle smashes into the Nitrogen-14, the Nitrogen-14 loses a proton and is replaced with a neutron, creating Carbon-14, and leaves a hydrogen nucleus. Carbon-14 exists naturally in the uppermost atmosphere and then travels down onto the Earth and gets absorbed by living things through...
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...Digging the Past Chapter three Where? Archaeologists are known for finding the excavating sites because through excavating archaeologists find out important information about the past. Before any field work can begin for an archeologist, he or she must first make a plan. This is called a research design. This design has four components. The first one is called formulation of research strategy, second one is collecting and recording of evidence, third processing and analysis evidence and the last one is publication. In chapter 3 they will be discussing the second component of the research design. In the textbook they used three methods to locate sites using ground reconnaissance. First one is documentary sources, then cultural/resource management and lately reconnaissance survey. The first one is used to locating recent sites, second one is sites that will be destroyed I believe. They locate record and excavate before it is destroyed. And the last one, this can be either unsystematic, where you can search anywhere on the site or systematic where there area is like a grid and you have one square to do your findings in. After that the textbook start talking about aerial reconnaissance. In aerial reconnaissance there are three subtopics....
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...In dating archeological artifacts archeologist have a variety of ways in finding out the age of that artifact, but four ways in-which archeologist date artifacts are: archeomagnetism, obsidian hydration, radiocarbon dating, and tree-ring dating. Each dating system has its own advantages and disadvantages, and some are more accessible, convenient and doable. When it comes to Archaeomagnetism dating, it is the study of and the interpretation of the Earths signature magnetic field at past times recorded in archaeological materials. These paleo magnetic signatures are fixed when ferromagnetic materials such as iron, cobalt and nickel are cooled below the Curie point, freezing the magnetic moment of the material in the direction of the local magnetic field at that time. The direction and magnitude of the magnetic field of the Earth at a particular location varies with time, and can be used to constrain the age of materials. In conjunction with techniques such as radiometric dating,...
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...critics of Mazar, including Avraham Faust, argue that Mazar did not discover the palace that King David actually built. From this perspective, the findings from Mazar’s excavation indicate a construction date before King David’s time. Alternatively, however, Mazar claims that it was indeed the palace that King David built that she found. In her words, she could “be silent about the palace theory … [and] let the stones speak for themselves” [Mazar, 2]. According to her view, not only do the stones, and other evidence from her excavation, date to the time of King David, but they also fit well into the Biblical narrative of the purpose the structure had. Altogether, the main issue both parties are arguing is whether or not the findings of archeologist Eilat Mazar were adequate evidence to confidently pinpoint King David’s palace. This issue is important because it addresses the role of archeology and its relationship with the Bible. At the base of Mazar’s argument is the notion that the...
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...Austronesians The Austronesians or the Austronesian speaking people, as the Linguistics call them, came from Southern China then traveled south toward Daemon and then entered the Philippines through its northern most edge, Batanes. The Austronesians populated the archipelago for more than a thousand years (Batanes). After that, they traveled west toward Madagascar in Africa and east toward Easter Island near South America. Bellwood said that “The first Austronesian speaking Filipinos who arrived here four thousand years ago from Taiwan through Batanes and Northern Luzon came by boat. When they arrived here they also had to develop their methods of crossing sea by building canoes”. The Austronesians were believed to be expert seafarer and boat builders. They developed the technology to navigate and cross open seas to distant islands. They invented the outrigger canoe and the catamaran, this is type of boats used in travelling. Textbooks say that our ancestors reached the Philippines through land bridges but there is evidence that they came from Southern China using boat through Taiwan. The different boats were the instrument in the spread of the Austronesian languages through the Neolithic Era. The Austronesians colonized the islands in Southeast Asia and the Pacific and imposed the language in their subjects. Today there are about 1200 languages considered part of the Austronesian family. Boats and the seas played the central role in the belief of Austronesian speaking people...
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...contrast is the sleek and slender limbed ‘Dancing Girl’ in bronze, just 10.5 cms high. Said a surprised John Marshall in the following quotation: When I first saw it I found it difficult to belive they were pre historic. it seemed to so completely to upset all established ideas about early art. Modelling such as this was unknown to the ancient world up to the Hellenistic age of Greece. The technique use to make this sculpture is called the ‘lost wax method’. This is a technique in whichthe desired form is modelled in clay and then this is coated in wax. This is then covered with an outer layer of clay, with one or more apertures piercing it. Molten bronze is the poured through the apertures and the wax evaporates, allowing the bronze to coat the clay core. The outer layer of clay is then broken and discarded. The ‘Dancing Girl’ was also British archeologist Mortimer Wheeler’s favorite, in his words: She’s about fifteen years old I should think not, not more, but she stands there with bangles all the way up her arm and nothing else on...A girl perfectly confident of herself and the world....
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...In order to determine whether or not a society can be considered a civilization, it is essential to have a clear definition of the word itself. Webster's dictionary defines a civilization as an advanced state of intellectual, cultural, and material development in human society, marked by progress in the arts and sciences, the extensive use of writing, and the appearance of complex political and social institutions. Although that may be the definition in the dictionary, I believe civilization to be the way of life started by people who live in unified cities. However, V. Gordon Childe, a famous archeologist, created ten conditions, which he felt needed to be fulfilled in order to consider a society a civilization. While each of Childe's ten conditions are all of importance, it is essentially incorrect to assume that a society is not a civilization simply because it does not fulfill all of the conditions. The concepts of class stratification is well defined and clearly cut in Childe’s work. It is now essential to define this condition and then apply it to...
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...Ever since middle school, I had an interest in social studies, especially in the cultural topics. I loved to learn about the different cultural and customs that are in the world. Cultural anthropology is a field that I am very intrigued in. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook anthropologists and archeologists “study the origin, development, and behavior of humans”. The Cultural Anthropology program of the national park service said that cultural anthropology “specialize in the study of culture and peoples’ beliefs, practices, and the cognitive and social organization of human groups”. In the occupational outlook handbook explain the job descriptions for anthropology. They plan cultural research, and collect information from observations,...
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...accomplishing the tasks we face in everyday life. Everything in our world is interrelated, the fossil fuels and other materials that we use every day have a huge effect on the world’s environment. Coal has been used for heating since cavemen were living on the earth. Archeologists have also found evidence that the Romans in England used it in the second and third centuries. Coal, along with other fossil fuels, have been used as a source of energy and have had an effect on our environment. The average amount of carbon dioxide produced per year is 21.3 billion tonnes and our environment can only displace half of that amount, which leads to the pollution of our atmosphere. If the human race continues on its use of heavy fossil fuels the global warming crisis will only become worse along with our living conditions. The process which is used in science is called the scientific method. The scientific method starts with making a hypothesis or a theory, then through testing and researching come to a conclusion about the research they have done. Along with testing and researching the experiment must be able to be reproduced to show that it is a reliable source to base the scientist’ conclusion on. Through the scientific method we are able to find answers and solutions to the problems, questions, and the effect we have on the human life. After reading an article on the Business Insider website I was able to find out that according to the EPA, “A human life...
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...of those images are included in a complete appendix at the beginning of the book. Walton gives acknowledgements, which are followed by a list of abbreviations. Part 1- Comparative Studies In this first section it includes the first two chapters. Chapter one is appropriately named history and methods. The resolution of this part of the book is to protect the Bible from the harm done by comparative studies which warped evidence to work against the historicity, canonicity, and divine revelation of the Bible. Chapter 1- History and Methods This chapter opens up with the rediscovery of Egypt and Mesopotamia, dating back to the 1800s and the mid 1900s. The author states that archeologists were very quickly discovering that the Bible in its entirety was completely and wholly accurate and true. It was during this time that evolution and the scientific movement was at its prime. Science was progressing. IT was during this time that science and theology began to clash. The truth of the Bible was being fought against on all sides and was quickly being twisted. New data that confirmed the themes of parallel theologies to the Old Testament were being uncovered by archeologists. For people who have an interest in understanding the Bible, it...
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...they should be complete enough to convince the instructor that you thoroughly understand the course material. Where applicable, use examples or illustrations. Each student is permitted to have one 8” x 5” handwritten note card during the exam. Frank Boas scientific method “Creation Science” theory hypothesis Karl Marx Charles Darwin Frederick Engels Origin of the Species Jared Diamond “social Darwinism” Margaret Mead natural selection Yehudi Cohen zoological taxonomy Anthropology vs. Sociology taxon ethnographic methodologies Paleolithic genealogical method Mesolithic interviewing techniques Neolithic key cultural consultants agricultural revolution in Neolithic longitudinal research human zoological taxonomy annual cycle what primates have in common why anthropologists should spend more than one annual cycle primates “ivory tower” approach differences between humans and other primates “advocacy” approach Homininoids Homo sapiens American Anthropological Association Hominins Homo sapiens sapiens ethics for ethnographers Hominids “archaic” homo sapiens ethics for archeologists human zoological taxonomy ethics for Anthropology instructors stereoscopic vision Four Major Subfields of Anthropology bipedalism cultural anthropology Australopithicus archeological anthropology Homo habilis Mary Leaky biological (physical)...
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...Angela Maguire Prof. David Gilhousen PHSC 210- Elements of Earth Science July 24, 2015 Radiocarbon Dating: Faith of Fact Introduction Archeologist and other scientists have used many different dating methods to establish the age of the earth and things on the earth. One of the dating methods that has been used is radiocarbon dating, also known as Carbon-14 dating. Radiocarbon dating is a prejudiced method that can be used to prove the desired outcome. Like many other methods, radiocarbon dating is inconsistent and constantly changing. The root of a scientist’s belief must come from a more stable foundation. Although, Old-earth and young-earth scientists agree on carbon-14 half-life, the scientists differ in areas such as finding C-14 in rocks and diamonds. To begin, we must first describe the process of radiocarbon dating. The half-life of Carbon-14 has been measured at 5,730 years. Therefore, the assumption has been made that radiocarbon dating is only valid to be used on objects older than 100,000 years. Morris (2011,63) describes the process in this way, “Carbon-14 is formed when nitrogen -14 interacts with a cosmic ray-produced neutron in the upper atmosphere”. This new isotope is only a small part of the total carbon. Within the isotope there is a ratio of Carbon-12, a stable carbon, to Carbon-14, a non-stable carbon. The isotope is incorporated into carbon dioxide, which is then breathed in by all living organisms. When living organisms are alive, the radiocarbon...
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...empires, lead long and healthy lives without the daily worry and trouble to find wild foods and avoid starvation. But Diamond brings forth some troubling news to rain on the progressivist’s parade. Those recent archaeology discoveries (now outdated) attempted to discredit the long held beliefs that the human race is better off because of adopted agriculture. “The adoption of agriculture, supposedly our most decisive step toward a better life, was in many ways a catastrophe from which we have never recovered. With agriculture came the gross social and sexual inequality, the disease and despotism, that curse our existence.” (Diamond, 1987). The support for this hypothesis is in the findings of indirect and direct tests. The indirect method examines modern day hunter-gathers: “Are twentieth century hunter-gatherers really worse off than farmers? And directly by the paleopathologist’s tests on primitive hunter-gather cultures turned farmers. Both provide evidence that fail to support the progressivist view. The case study on the modern...
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