Knowra Prehistoric archaeology Prehistoric archaeology Prehistoric archaeology studies human societies before written records through material remains, including tools, structures, and environmental evidence.
Archaeological excavation : The controlled removal and recording of archaeological deposits to document objects, features, and their contexts. Stratigraphic excavation preserves the associations that give prehistoric finds their meaning.
Material culture : The physical objects and built environments produced, used, or modified by human societies. Prehistoric archaeology relies on material culture where written testimony is absent.
Stone tool : A tool made by shaping stone, widely used by human ancestors and prehistoric societies. Tool forms and manufacturing traces provide evidence of skill, function, and cultural change.
John Lubbock : A British naturalist and politician who popularized the terms Paleolithic and Neolithic in 1865. His terminology helped establish a widely used framework for classifying prehistory.
Archaeological interpretation : The process of inferring past human behavior and social meaning from archaeological evidence. Prehistoric remains rarely explain themselves, making inference and uncertainty central.
Stratigraphy : The study of layered deposits and their sequence, used to establish relative chronology. Layer order helps determine which prehistoric remains came before others.
Archaeological context : The spatial and depositional relationships linking an archaeological find to its surroundings. Context distinguishes meaningful evidence from an object detached from its history.
Archaeogenetics : The study of ancient DNA from archaeological remains to investigate past populations and their relationships. Genetic evidence can complement artifacts when tracing prehistoric migrations and ancestry.
Christian Jürgensen Thomsen : A Danish antiquarian who organized the Danish National Museum using the Stone, Bronze, and Iron Age sequence. His museum classification helped turn material differences into a chronological system.
Archaeological record : The surviving material evidence of past human activity available for archaeological study. Its gaps and biases constrain claims about societies without written records.
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