Knowra Archaeology Archaeology Archaeology studies past human societies through material remains, including artifacts, buildings, environmental traces, and landscapes. It combines excavation and survey with scientific analysis and interpretation.
Archaeological excavation : The controlled removal and recording of deposits to reveal and document archaeological contexts. Stratigraphic excavation preserves the relationships among objects, structures, and layers.
Artifact (archaeology) : An object made, modified, or used by humans and recovered as archaeological evidence. Artifacts provide evidence of technologies, exchange, and everyday practices.
Settlement archaeology : The study of the location, form, and development of human settlements through archaeological evidence. Settlement patterns reveal how communities organized space and resources.
Antiquarianism : The study and collection of antiquities, especially before archaeology became a systematic discipline. Antiquarian collecting helped preserve objects but often lacked modern contextual methods.
Repatriation of human remains and cultural objects : The return of human remains or cultural objects to communities or nations with claims to them. Archaeological collections can embody histories of colonial taking and contested custody.
Archaeological survey : The systematic examination of a landscape to locate and record archaeological sites and features. Survey finds patterns of settlement that excavation alone would miss.
Ecofact : A naturally occurring remain, such as seed or bone, preserved in an archaeological context and relevant to human activity. Ecofacts connect material remains to diet, land use, and past environments.
Environmental archaeology : The study of past environments and human-environment relationships using archaeological evidence. Environmental remains show how climate, ecology, and people shaped one another.
Three-age system : A chronology dividing prehistory into Stone, Bronze, and Iron Ages according to dominant technologies. This scheme made material change a framework for organizing archaeological time.
NAGPRA : The United States Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990, governing consultation and repatriation of Native American remains and cultural items. This law reshaped archaeological responsibilities toward Native American communities.
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