Describe the four main categories of archaeological phenomena.
Archaeological phenomena, these are
archaeological evidence which found through the study of human culture by using
remains of any kind which can be past or present. This is to mean that
archaeologists construct ancient culture from archaeological data which are
remains of the past. Archaeological data as evidences are found in archaeological
sites where all archaeological evidences are found through archaeological
research for instance archaeological sites may include habitation sites,
ceremonial and religion sites like the temple of Amun at Karnak Egypt. Normally
archaeological evidences like artifacts, structures, features and Eco-facts
are found in archaeological sites.
Archaeologists use various studies to analyze artifacts, ecofacts,
structures and features which are categories of archaeological phenomenon. This
is because each of this broad categories covers a wide variety of archaeological
remains, this study includes consideration of the characteristics the differentiate one kind of data from others so as to show the ways each can
contribute to an understanding of past behavior, basically the information
gleaned from these remains is influenced by their physical characteristics and
their state of preservation
The following is the explanation of the four categories of
archeological phenomenon:
Artifacts: Fagan( 2009) define artifact as object found in
archeological sites, that exihit features resulting from human activity,
the term covers every from of portable archeological find ,artifact are
basically products of human ideas that people had about the way
object should look or be used, example of artifact are like stone axes,gold
ornaments,pottery and metal weapons.
Also Renfiew and Bahn( 2008) in the book Archeology methods and
practice” gave among the strength of artifact that, artifact provide evidence
to help us answer all the key questions, example clay vessel or pot may be
tested to produce a date for the pot and location where it was found,after
being tested and found source of the clay,this give evidence for the range and
contacts of the group that made the vessel also the analysis of the vessels
shape and any food or other residues found in it give information about the use
of that pot like cooking an d give information on the diet used
Ontop of that Ashmore sharer( 2010) in the book Discovering on
past brief intron to archeology they categorized artifacts into ceramic
artifact and metal artifact.
Ceramic artifacts, cover all industries in which artifact are
molded from clay and then made durable by firing example pottery and musical
instruments.
Metal artifacts, result from metallurgy
Which is the complex technology used to extract metal from
ores to produce metal artifact.the earliest examples of this technology are
found in south west Asia where between 8000 and 9500 years ago, began to shape
copper into simple tools and ornaments.
Organic artifact; the class organic artifacts includes a variety
of objects made from organic materials such as wood, plant fibers, bones antler, ivory
and shell. From this categorization the third artifacts category which is
organic seem to be less understood as mostly artifacts includes the organic
materials, but this organic materials fall under the artifacts until they are
made, modified and used by man example the ancient modified and shaped the
bones into bone tools for different activities like domestic use for cutting
and also for hunting.
To wind up discussion on artifacts this is to mean that
every culture has its own rules that limit and dictate the form of artifacts
hence the form of artifacts found in the society of hunters was different from
that of farmers for example modification of iron in hunting societies was for
production of hunting materials like spears while in farmers was for farming
activities in tilling soil.
The second category is features. Renfrew and Bahn (2008), defined
features as non-portable artifacts, includes simple features such as postholes;
may themselves or in combination with remains of hearths, floors and
ditches. Ashmore and Robert(2010), they gave characteristic of features that
are particularly important in analysis for instance in term of location and
arrangement. Intact features directly reflect the original maker’s and user
intentional placement.
On top of that they categorized features into two where by there
cumulative features and constructive features.
Constructive features were built to provide space for some activity
or set of activities example temple, burials and tombs.
Cumulative features are features that has been formed without
deliberate construction. The features result from accretion. Fagan(1985),
defined features as artifacts that cannot removed from the ground such as
postholes and ditches.
The third category is ecofacts; According to Renfrew and
Bahn(2008), refers ecofacts as non-artifactual organic and environmental
remains which includes human skeleton, animal bones and plant remains, all of
which may shed light of past human activities. Ecofacts indicates for example
what people ate or the environmental conditions under which they lived.
Fagan(1985), he explained that sometimes ecofacts refers to food
remains such as bones seeds and other finds which throw light on human
activities.
Also Fagan(2009), put emphasis on ecofacts that are archaeological
finds of cultural significance that were not manufactured by humans. These
includes bones and plant remains.
In all definitions given by the scholars seem to be resulted from
the organic objects like those of fauna and flora or animal and plants
respectively. Also another important thing to know about ecofacts is that must
associate with human culture, so despite of been organic objects like bones to
be ecofacts but can not fall under this category if is merely found in areas
where there is no sign of human existence.
The last and fourth category is structures. Structures involve
construction remains which were made, used or modified by human. Fagan (2009),
he explained structures as houses, granaries, temples and other buildings that
can be identified from the patterns of postholes and other features in the
ground.
Generally, the archaeological phenomena or remains which are found
in archaeological sites, it is the role of archaeologists who by different
methods try to put the people into light World concerning the past human
culture through the researched evidences which is our concern meaning
artifacts, ecofacts, features and structures. In turn through these evidences
helps to study about the past and past culture scientifically.
REFERENCES
Ashmore, W. and R. J. Sharer.(2010). Discovery Our Past; A
Brief Introduction to Archaeology. New York: MCGraw-Hill.
Fagan, B. M. (1985). In the Beginning; An Introduction to
Archaeology. Toronto-Canada.Brown and Companies.
Fagan, B. M. (2009). Archaeology; A Brief Introduction.
United State of America: Prentice Hall.
Renfrew, C. and P. Bahn. (2008). Archaeology Theory,
Methods and Practise . Hudson LTD.
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