X - Arch 211 - LECTURE 2

Lecture
2
General
background of
archaeology
• Archaeology involves the recovery of artifacts, ecofacts and features which
were used by past societies and communities. It involves the difficult process
of classifying, analyzing, and dating these cultural relics and other finds and
giving it meaning.
• Archaeology also involves the preservation of the world’s cultural heritage. It

is thus, both a physical and intellectual activity.
• Archaeological investigations can be undertaken at any place where humans

have previously settled (eg. Begho, Bonoase, Ntereso), or are still settling
(Elmina, Ogua [Cape Coast), Hani).
• Archaeological investigations can thus be undertaken on land and underwater

(shipwreck locations).
Some important definitions of archaeology
(1)The study of past societies through their material remains which are
recovered by excavations from the archaeological record.
(2) The science of reconstructing and interpreting the human past through the
study of material remains
(3) Archaeology is the science that uses past cultural remains to order and
describe ancient events, and to explain the human behaviours behind those
events and occurrences
(4) The study of mans’ cultural past through material remains with the view of
classifying and describing the events through space and time, and giving these
events meaning
• Archaeological data has been used as a tool by
several politicians and historians to whip up
nationalistic sentiments and patriotism, or to
denigrate some ethnic groups. Dr Kwame
Nkrumah for example used archaeological
evidence from some notable sites like Gao,
Timbucktu, Jenne, and Khumbi Saleh in the
Sahel region of West Africa and Great Zimbabwe
to uplift and prove the intellectual capabilities /
prowess of the African.
Archaeology / anthropology / history / science
Archaeology has similar goals with the disciplines of

anthropology / history / science
Both archaeology and anthropology study man,
especially their cultural and physical characteristic. It
incorporates knowledge of art, belief and ideological
systems, laws and moral codes, customs and traditions,
and habits which are acquired and passed onto
successive generations. Both subjects also study man’s
unique physical characteristics as animals (evolution)
Archaeology and history have the same goals (i.e both study
man’s past). The difference however is the technique and
methodology used by the two. Archaeology studies material
remains previously used by past societies, while historians
study documents recorded by other people to understand past
events and occurrences.
Another difference is the time span. History extends to only

about 5,000 Y.A. in Egypt and Mesopotamia, and 500 years in
sub-Saharan Africa, while archaeology extends to over 3
billion Y.A.
Archaeology in many ways is science because it employs the
scientific methods of analyzing data recovered from the
archaeological record. Archaeologists conduct experiments
and occasionally formulate and tests hypothesis to establish
their validity or invalidity from which conclusions about the
past are made.
Archaeology also employs several scientific techniques and

dating methods such as flotation analysis, and radiocarbon,
Thermoluminescence, fission track, and obsidian hydration
respectively to date archaeological data (material remains)
The four goals Archaeology
(1)To reveal the form of the past. This involves

describing and classifying the physical remains
recovered from surface surveys and excavation,
their analysis and the establishment of
distribution patterns through space and time.
(2) To interpret and reconstruct the socio-cultural

past of ancient societies
The four goals of Archaeology, cont’d
(3)
To establish the cultural processes associated
with past events and occurrences
(4) To establish chronological sequences of

past events and occurrences
Reference
Robert Sharer and Wendy

Ashmore. 2016. Archaeology.
Discovering our Past. Mayfield
Publishing Company. New York
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Lecture

• Archaeology also involves the preservation of the world’s cultural heritage. It

• Archaeological investigations can be undertaken at any place where humans

• Archaeological investigations can thus be undertaken on land and underwater

Archaeology has similar goals with the disciplines of

Another difference is the time span. History extends to only

Archaeology also employs several scientific techniques and

(1)To reveal the form of the past. This involves

(2) To interpret and reconstruct the socio-cultural

(4) To establish chronological sequences of

Robert Sharer and Wendy

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