ANTH 20633 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Google Earth, Cultural Anthropology, Big Log
2 Nov 2016
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Document Summary
Archeology: study of past human cultures & societies. Artifacts: objects used, modified, or made by people. Matrix: materials surrounding findings like soil, sediment, rocks. Taphonomy: study of how things were buried and what occurred to them after they got buried. Cultural formation processes: how people have affected what survives. Four steps of human behavior (tools, food, etc): acquisition of raw material, manufacture, use, disposal. Natural formation processes: how nature has affected what survives. These serve as a main source of evidence since they are preserved so well. Rocks can tell us about activities while clay pots may contain residue of what was in them. Gold and silver preserve well but bronze oxidizes. Determined largely by the matrix and the climate. Climates: climates have a huge influence on preservation. Tropical climates: can be destructive because of warm environment, heavy rain, and humidity. Temperate climates: not too good because of fluctuating rainfall and temperature.
