Introduction to Archaeological Theory / Theories

Introduction to Archaeological Theory / Theories

Archeology

Is the study of past human behavior patterns and cultural changes, through material remains.

At various stages from the earliest stages of human evolution, specializations can be identified by their polar cultural factors. That is to say, the various materials used by man in those eras and which are still being discovered through excavations and explorations, which give information about the uses of human beings.

Ex: -

• Stone tools
•  Tools made from animal and fish bones
•  Oyster species used as food, grains, plant parts, animal remains
• Ash deposits found in excavations at fire sites.
• Factors in outdoor and cave-associated habitats
• Places where stone tools were prepared  (factory side)
• Agriculture Fields
• Drainage systems            
  

  According to the above definition, the primary focus of archeology is on

• Human behavior
• Cultural changes
• Material remains

         On the factors. Social change depends on these three factors. Not only this, with the help of fire you can do welding. These traits have the potential to define any society

       Theory is a hypothesis. It's a bit of a guess. Various theories / theories are used in archeology to facilitate interpretations. Archeology studies what we never know about human societies that existed much earlier than we are. We have to take a strong responsibility for the assumptions we can make there, and in an unfamiliar society, it is inevitable that different theories will be used here to interpret patterns of behavior different from ours. Prior to interpreting these assumptions to be true, scientific and rational methods must be used to analyze how material culture, along with patterns of human behavior, influenced cultural change. Archaeological theory is used for this purpose.

       Special attention is paid to "interpretation" in processes such as data collection and analysis. The use of assumptions in interpretation is inevitable. The peculiarity is that since we make interpretations about unknown facts in an unknown society, we can never draw conclusions there and we should only come to assumptions.

                              Data presented in research; It is possible to uncover, to some extent, old-fashioned facts based on assumptions on acceptance and rejection. Imagination is essential here. A researcher has the ability to make different ideas as hypotheses. But what matters is the ability of the presenter to prove those ideas. Evidence is essential to ensure that they are accurate.

Traditional Archeology and New Archeology

Traditional Archeology


Cree. This situation can be traced back to 1960.
Under this, more attention was paid to the presentation of details about the physical nature of antiquities.
Data collection was abundant
The main purpose was to sell antiquities to antiquities collectors.
So much attention was not paid to the soil layers during the excavations.
Curiosity and commercial purposes came first. (Curiosity of antiquities collectors and the profit they can make from selling them)
Much attention was paid only to the details of the antiquities.Traditional Archeology


Cree. This situation can be traced back to 1960.
Under this, more attention was paid to the presentation of details about the physical nature of antiquities.
Data collection was abundant
The main purpose was to sell antiquities to antiquities collectors.
So much attention was not paid to the soil layers during the excavations.
Curiosity and commercial purposes came first. (Curiosity of antiquities collectors and the profit they can make from selling them)
Much attention was paid only to the details of the antiquities.

New Archeology


Cree. Born after 1960.
(explanation) Explanations were given priority here.
Took place at the research level. (Excavation methods, photography, reporting, narration, use of antiquities)
There was a purpose
Metric map usage started
It happened according to formal methods
Model building descriptions occurred

        

       In this way, it is possible to understand how the field of archeology progressed, gradually moving away from the old traditions and towards the scientific basis.

                    The use of archeology in the study of archeology is a scientific process. Archeology discusses the past through the use of materials. Interpretation is key when using data that is being monitored using excavations. In the light of the above, the understanding of material factors is very important for the study of cultural changes and their interpretation.

                          Theory is used as a psychological substitute. That is, as a substitute for a hypothetical phenomenon. In interpreting a material of archaeological value, the context of the environment / soil layer in which it was deposited, i.e. the rest of the material around it, the shape of the soil layer, etc. must also be taken into account. The value of antiquities separated by context is very low and the environment around the object is paramount in the interpretation.

Ex: -
         When an excavation site is found, not only the stone tools but also the environment around them provide vital evidence. The context is especially important when describing the place where the manufacturing process took place, the scrap metal used in the processing of tools, the area where they were removed, the processing technology, etc.

         There are various theories related to archeology. They are used in various ways in the study as well as in the process of ancient social reconstruction. This situation is expected to be discussed further in future articles.

M.suranga pushpakumara