What is Archaeology

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What is Archaeology?
Photo from my work at Mammoth Cave National Park.
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Archaeologists DO NOT

• Study dinosaurs.
• Just look for pretty or valuable objects.
• Just pick up artifacts.
• Spend all their time just digging.
• Buy, sell, or put a price on artifacts.

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What is archaeology?
Study of artifacts left behind to learn about
people from the past.
Photos from my work at Mammoth Cave National Park.
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People who are no longer living
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Archaeologists study humans that have been gone
for 50 years to about 4.5 million years.
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Artifact Things people used that they left
behind.
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Culture Any learned behavior that is shared
with others.
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So what is archaeology?

• Dead People
• and
• Garbage

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Where in the World?

• EVERYWHERE

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Egyptology
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Classical Archaeology
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Polynesian Archaeology
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Mayanology
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North American Archaeology
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Kentucky Archaeology
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Underwater Archaeology
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Other types of Archaeology

• Celtic Archaeology
• Biblical Archaeology
• Prehistoric Archaeology
• Historic Archaeology
• Industrial Archaeology
• Cultural Resource Management
• And many, many more.

PowerPoint created by Amy J McCray, Spring 2007.