Sage-Tips

Is archaeology the handmaiden of history?

A historical archaeologist explores the divide between archaeologists and historians. It has been over 30 years since Ivor Noel Hume gave historical archaeology the “handmaiden to history” moniker archaeologists are still fleeing. Historians and historical archaeologists are divided by the same past that unites them.

In what way do you think the study of archaeology influence the history of a country?

Thousands of Native American archaeological sites of every kind, from small temporary campsites to villages of thousands of people, dot the Commonwealth’s landscape. That’s also true of sites created since the first colonists arrived here in the seventeenth century.

What makes archaeology different from history?

What is the basic difference between history and archaeology? Answer: History deals with rewriting events of the past and archaeology is the study of people, events, their lifestyle from a period when writing was not invented, with the use of artefacts and other documented evidence.

What is the difference between historical and prehistoric archaeology?

With prehistory meaning the time before the development of writing, prehistoric archaeology is the study of cultures that existed before the time of written record. Unlike prehistoric archaeology, historical archaeology is the study of the physical remains of cultures with written records.

Do historians use Archaeology?

While historians and archaeologists both use written documents to learn about the past, only archaeologists interpret archaeological sites. That involves unique field work.

What is the great divide Archaeology?

The concept of a “great divide” was introduced in Greek archaeology by Colin Renfrew to distinguish between the traditions of Classical archaeology and the priorities of archaeology in America.

How can archaeology enrich history writing in Africa?

Archaeologists have been able to prove that the Early Stone Age has links with the African continent. In the absence of any other evidence for the reconstruction of African history, archaeology becomes useful as a tool to write the history of Africa. In that sense, it is important to the study of African history.

How does archeology help us understand the past?

Archaeology provides us with the opportunity to learn about past cultures through the study of artifacts, animal bones and sometimes human bones. Studying these artifacts helps to provide us with some insight about what life was like for people who left behind no written record.

How are history and archaeology similar and different?

How are history and archaeology different? History and archaeology are different in that they study the artifacts from different perspectives. Archaeologists are more concerned with the physical evidence (artifacts); historians rely more on documentary evidence to support their work.

What is the relationship between archeology and history?

Archeology is a source of history concerned with the study of past human physical and cultural remains (fossil and artifacts) recovered from the earth by archeological exaction. As such archeology deals with pre-historical as well as historical periods of the human society.

How do scientists develop an understanding of pre historic societies?

Without such written sources, the only way to understand prehistoric societies is through archaeology. Because archaeology is the study of past human activity, it stretches back to about 2.5 million years ago when we find the first stone tools – The Oldowan Industry.