Archeology Final Exam
1. Cognitive archaeology is a perspective that focuses on the human behavioral models and the ways the societies act and thought. It studies the role of religion, ideology, and cultural approaches of the ancient people. The information received by investigating and analyzing the remains is an answer to the manifestation of the ideas and the use of symbols. It helps to comprehend what religions, ritual, and beliefs people followed, and to understand the level of their self-consciousness and self-awareness. It is often difficult to implement because of lack of the historical evidence, remains, artifacts. The absence of materials contradicts the effectiveness of the theory, also caused by difficulties to interpret the remains.
2. The bioarchaeological analysis allows reconstructing the diets of humans of ancient times, by analyzing the bone chemistry. It provides the information that helps to understand were exactly those people lived and what they ate. The analysis can help researchers to understand what the people did and even detect the migration, indicating the human movements at certain points or during their lives.
3. Established archaeological techniques assist in solving crimes because they can be used to identify the burned, mutilated, decomposed or unrecognizable remains of individuals. Also, they may help in investigation and documentation of mass graves. Archaeological techniques can determine the stature, sex, ancestry of the victim, and potentially provide the information on the cause of death, diseases, and past trauma. Example - "Jefferson's account described his method of excavation, the different layers of earth, and the artifact and the human bones that he encountered. He tested the idea that the bones were from the warfare. Noting the absence of traumatic wounds and the presence of children. Therefore, Jefferson rejected the idea that the bones were those of fallen soldiers" (Kelly, Robert L and David Hurst Thomas, 25)
4. The archaeological findings can fundamentally change the perception of the history of humanity, while history is a record of events. The discoveries are often sensational and attract a lot of attention. Therefore, the view of archaeology as "handmaiden to history" has changed and is not seen as threatening as it used to be. Historians and archaeologists embrace the common approaches with understanding and mutual dealing with the discoveries.
Works Cited
Kelly, Robert L and David Hurst Thomas. Archaeology. 7th ed., University Of Wyoming, …
