Saturday, 1 October 2016

Important Tips On Southeast Alaska Archaeology

By Sharon Phillips


Generally, archaeology entails studying the recent and ancient human past through the examination of material remains. It forms part of anthropology, a topic that entails the studying human culture. Beginning from million year-old fossils of human ancestry to present-day structures of the 20th century, archaeologists examine all physical remains in a bid to comprehensively and broadly understand human culture. With southeast Alaska archaeology, one is able to have unique perspectives of the human culture and history, which significantly has contributed in understanding of the ancient as well as the recent past.

Archaeology is not just crucial towards understanding when and where people lived, but additionally aids in comprehending how and why they lived. This is made possible through the examination of adjustments and reasons for such adjustments in the cultures of humans over time. History primarily depends on documents as well as records in interpreting lives and the events. Nonetheless, archaeologist plow back into the time before written languages then analyze lives by observing the things that these people constructed and left behind. This field goes through all the time-periods as well as geographical regions that people lived.

Archaeologists carry out their study in what is known as archaeological sites. The site is usually located in an area that has evidence of human activity. The site can be a small campsite with scattered flaked stone, a sign that tool were being modified or manufactured. The site could also be large and complex with hundreds of structures and many artifacts.

Archaeological evidences involve features that include burial mounds, archaeological structures, storage pits, petroglyphs or hearths existing on rock sites. Archaeologists could also collect evidences from pollen, animal bones, snail shell or seeds that were used by people indirectly. However, these evidences are able to tell more pertaining to the diet of the occupants of the site and the environment lived.

There are instances where archaeology is thought of as an imitation to the discipline of history. It is actually the vice versa. There are two main advantages got from archaeological evidences. To begin with, there is a possibility of stretching back to the eras that were so remote in order to understand an unknown. Secondly, archaeologist handle tangible evidences hence this provides credibility not provided by other human sciences.

The efforts of archaeologist can shed the much-needed light on the present day issues revolving around possession and identity. This is possible through discovery of valuable facts on land, artifacts, and bones which can help to solve issues of retention of land rights of a minority group.

The role that archaeological studies play is very essential. This field through a revelation of cultural ways and artifacts significantly contributes to the identification of incorrect understandings and historical views. The field is as well vital in establishing unity within diversity across different cultures and civilizations. This helps in the rediscovery of our own-selves.

Therefore, losing archaeological artifact of a site is considered as a loss of a story that may never be retold. Hence, the archaeology discipline needs to be treated with value to preserve the past. This is since it portrays the misconstrued stories and the buried pasts.




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