Author Archives: brtaylor

Archaeology: Helping Fight Poverty around the World

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Many people think that archaeology is merely a tool that people can use to learn about the past. However, archaeology is a field that has great promise for helping societies deal with more modern contemporary issues.

One of the many issues that archaeology can help society better deal with is poverty. Although it may seem like an odd issue for archaeology to address, there are actually multiple ways in which the field can help with poverty. Two large ways in which archaeology can help with poverty are helping people learn ancient ways of life and agriculture which may prove more fruitful than their current practices, and by hiring unemployed non-professionals to help assist at excavation sites.

In the past, when the United States was in the middle of the Great Depression, President Franklin Roosevelt created the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) to help try and foster some economic growth within the country. The CCC employed young men without jobs to helps conserve and restore the nature of the outdoors. Although these young men helped to plant trees and build roads, they also engaged in archaeological investigations. During the investigations, the young men helped to discover and expose historic house foundations, among other things. The CCC was involved in archaeological investigations in over fifteen states. During the eight years that the CCC existed, it employed over 3,000,000 young men across the nation. With this many young men getting employment, it helped to boost the nation out of an economic depression.

A crew of the Civilian Conservation Corps

A crew of the Civilian Conservation Corps

 

Another way in which archaeology can help with poverty is helping modern societies learn about the way of life of people in the past so that they can better understand how to make the most of their land and resources now. One current example of this can be found in Bolivia. In the past century, Bolivia has had harsh times dealing with climate changes. In the 1960’s, a pre-Inca civilization agricultural method was discovered by archaeologists. This method compensated for such climate changes as those that are currently being faced, and the system has now been implemented. The new system allows for better irrigation of water year-round, and it also allows for a higher yield of crops from the same amount of land. This increase in productivity will bring more wealth and prosperity to a society that might have faced struggles otherwise.

 

An illustration of how an ancient agricultural technique would be a more efficient use of the land.

An illustration of how an ancient agricultural technique would be a more efficient use of the land.

Archaeology is not just a field that teaches us about the past, but rather it uses knowledge of the past as a means to better the present.  Uncovering better agricultural techniques and employing non-professionals are only two of the ways in which archaeology can help us deal with poverty around the world.

 

Sources:

http://newdealarchaeology.com/2013/04/05/roosevelts-tree-army-and-americas-past-the-civilian-conservation-corps-ccc-and-new-deal-archaeology/

http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1586.html

http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=1380

 

Images:

http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/sites/default/files/styles/article-top/public/m-11023.jpg?itok=jEHItAne

http://inesad.edu.bo/developmentroast/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/camellones.png

 

Further Reading:

http://pastpreservers.blogspot.com/2013/03/help-save-archaeological-sites-and.html

Conflict: Leaving a Unique Footprint in the Archaeological Record

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Last week, an Italian anthropologist named Carlo Severi gave a lecture on images and their importance to archaeology, especially in regard to the Penitente Brotherhood. This brotherhood was a cult of Christianity that formed as a result of conflicts between Christian civilizations and Native Americans in the United States. This cult developed unique symbols and images such as Dona Sebastiana, a saint represented as a skeletal woman with a bow and arrow. Professor Severi’s lecture revolved around the necessity of this image to the brotherhood. This image was a direct reflection of the conflicts that the people of the brotherhood faced.

An image of Dona Sebastiana.

An image of Dona Sebastiana.

Throughout history, many objects have become symbols to represent how conflicts have affected societies. Many of these objects are considered forms of art, and one form that has become very well known is “trench art.” Trench art was created during World War I and each piece represents what war was like for its creator. World War I was a war that involved many different countries, so trench art can be found in numerous locations around the globe. An archaeological study of trench art can help archaeologists understand issues about conflict landscapes, nationalism, religion, and heritage.

Trench art varies from piece to piece, because each piece was made by a different person. The most common materials used for the creation of trench art include bullet shells and other war-related materials. The materials and methods used to create a specific piece of art can help tell what type of person made the artifact such as whether it was a soldier not in battle, a prisoner of war, or even a civilian.

An example of trench art.

An example of trench art.

Archaeologist Nicholas Saunders has set out to study modern conflict archaeology, in which he studies trench art to better understand global conflict. Saunders studies conflict archaeology as opposed to battlefield archaeology, because he feels that battlefield archaeology only seeks to record items to help create a better picture of military history. Saunders felt that no one was giving proper attention to trench art, so he set out to study trench art to gain a better understanding of past conflict as reflected in these items.

Archaeologist Nicholas Saunders at an excavation.

Archaeologist Nicholas Saunders at an excavation.

Pieces of art often become symbols that represent something, whether it is related to religion, culture, or issues faced at the time. Trench art, which has only in recent years become a popular art form to study, can help aid archaeologists in understanding the conflicts that surrounded World War I. Whenever conflict arises it is often represented in some sort of symbol that is created. Although trench art and images of Dona Sebastiana may seem as if they have nothing in common, both can lend archaeologists a helping hand in understanding the conflicts of the past.

Sources:

http://www.conflictarchaeology.com/

http://www.archaeology.co.uk/articles/features/nick-saunders-launching-the-new-discipline-of-modern-conflict-archaeology.htm

Images:

http://www.ohiou.edu/news/pix/DONA.JPG

http://www.trenchart.org/ArgonneVase.jpg

http://www.conflictarchaeology.com/Nicholas%20Saunders_files/saved_resource(5)

Further Reading:

http://www.trenchart.org/

Photographs: More than Just a Pretty Picture

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They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but to an archaeologist a picture can mean so much more. Although archaeologists can use photographs to assess sites they have never visited, there is an even greater promise in the combined futures of archaeology and photography. Because of the innovations that have been made in regards to photography, it is now possible that it can become a tool to capture the process of archaeology instead of just the end results.

When many people think about archaeology, they immediately think of the artifacts that archaeologists discover. However, there is an entire process that leads to finding these artifacts. When field work occurs, archaeologists spend time planning and surveying before they begin excavating, which is when the discovery of most artifacts occurs. With digital photography, it is now possible for archaeologists to document every step of the process that occurs at any given site. Instead of just having photographic documentation of the artifacts, archaeologists can now utilize photographs of the entire field work process to analyze how well each step of field work was executed.

An example of how the steps of an excavation can be documented.

An example of how the steps of an excavation can be documented.

 

Digital photography is a development that has changed the way objects were captured and remembered. Once people could see what the photos they were taking looked like, it opened up an entirely new perspective on the possible uses of photography. Digital photography allows archaeologists to make sure that photos are in focus, that they have sufficient lighting so that people can see what is in the photograph, and that objects are captured in correct colors so that analysis may be as accurate as possible. Digital photography allows a photographer to capture numerous pictures, whereas cameras that required film were much more limited in the number of photographs that could be taken. The increase in the number of available photographs allows archaeologists to capture multiple elements of a site as well as the entire process that occurs at a site. Digital photography no longer limits how many pictures can be taken.

Another important aspect of digital photography is that it allows archaeologists to return to a site without physically having to visit it. If there are multiple photographs from multiple angles, then an archaeologist can continue to analyze different aspects of a site long after they have left the field. Digital photography allows the archaeologist to recreate the story of the site by analyzing its objects, landscape, and surroundings.

Pictures allow archaeologists to capture the landscape of a site.

Pictures allow archaeologists to capture the landscape of a site.

 

Sources:

Jansen, Alex. “Exploring the Future Roles for Archaeological Photography.” March 2012. <http://caaconference.org/wp-content/uploads/caa2012/posters/725_Jansen_CAA2012.pdf>

“Short Guide to Digital Photography in Archaeology.” June 2006. <http://www.bajr.org/documents/digitalphotography.pdf>

 

Photographs:

Image 1:

http://archaeology.co.uk/files/2011/03/Students-excavating-in-the-Medieval-graveyard-credit-Alan-Wilmshurstsmall1.jpg

Image 2:

http://thesebonesofmine.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/the-man-bac-landscape-looking-southwest-excavations-centre-right.jpg

 

Further Reading:

http://documents.stanford.edu/MichaelShanks/453

Fieldwork: Not Your Average Dig.

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When we were assigned field work as a part of archaeology class, my mind was immediately filled with images of excavations and lost artifacts. I could not have been more wrong; the only digging that occurred involved digging through the woods in order to get to the site.

We set out with one task in mind: to take a sampling unit at a previously found site in the Catskills. The Catskill Mountains are located in the Southeastern portion of the state of New York. They are home to a reservoir that supplies most of the water supply for New York City, located about 100 miles below. When New York City bought land from the Catskills to construct the reservoir, quarries were established to provide the necessary quantities of stone needed for its creation. While all of this was going on, many people were forced to leave their land. My archaeology professor, Dr. April Beisaw, is currently working on a project in the Catskills to determine how the lives of the people there were affected by all that was happening around them.

A Blue Stone Quarry located in the Catskill Mountains

A Blue Stone Quarry located in the Catskill Mountains

In order for us to get a taste of field work, Dr. Beisaw took us out in groups so that we could see some of what her project is all about. We drove to the Catskills, where we aimed to create a sampling unit at a site that had been previously discovered near a quarry. The goal of the sampling unit was to help us better understand what was going on at the places that had been surveyed. We found numerous types of broken glass containers, clam shells, metal fragments, metal cans, and broken dishes. Although at first these may seem like random objects, what they can tell us about the people that lived there is astounding.

An example of a grid sampling unit.

An example of a grid sampling unit.

 

If you did not know what to look for, it may seem irrelevant that there were multiple types of broken dishes, glasses, and glass containers. Everyone uses dishes, right? But when I think back to my home, I can distinctly remember having a set of matching dishes and glasses that we used on a regular basis. However, when you discover multiple dishes at one site, it begins to give you insight into the situation of the people that once lived there. Perhaps people often gave whoever lived there dishes or perhaps they could only afford mismatched items. Every find at a site can help an archaeologist learn a little more about what was really going on there.

Although people often only think of field work as excavations, there is so much more behind the term. Surveying and sampling can help an archaeologist get a better understanding of a site without ever having to break ground.  Field work can include excavation, but what we set out to do was a different type of field work. We set out with goal of gaining insight into the lives of those who had once lived in the Catskills.

Works Cited:

“About the Catskills.” The Catskills Homepage. Web. 2010. <http://www.thecatskillregion.com/about-the-catskills.aspx>

Ashmore, Wendy, and Robert J. Sharer. Discovering Our Past: A Brief Introduction to  Archaeology. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Pub., 1988. Print.

Images:

http://catskillmountaineer.com/PWF-tremper.html

http://www.museumsofmayo.com/achill_1.htm

Further Reading:

http://www.catskillarchive.com/rrextra/DNAQUE.Html

http://www.utexas.edu/courses/denbow/labs/survey.htm