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Archeology
Archeology refers to studying peoples’ past culture by excavating prehistoric objects or things that can relate to an activity that these groups of people used to do. These prehistoric objects are referred to as artifacts and are mainly located at the museum when excavated successfully by archeologists (Spaulding 33-39). As an archeologist, I will be doing my prehistoric archeologist research in the Bay Area of California. The tribes located in this region are the Muwekma Ohlone people, who are classified among Natives Americans. The tribes being Natives means that they have existed in this area for a long time; hence they will be important in facilitating information that I need for my project.
Prehistoric archeology project is a research study that involves the identification and analysis of cultures that existed before the historical data recording introduced by researchers (Spaulding 33-39). Archeologists mainly conduct this project in the pre-urban areas since they are less populated. Most of the artifacts in these regions have remained intact for many years. For example, the Bay Area of California represents an excellent example of a pre-urban setting located before by nine cities.
Artifacts refer to material remains that early humans made or used as part of their culture discovered by archeologists during their research (Nagarajappa, Anil, Neha, and Rana 623-662). The artifacts that are likely to be found in the Bay Area include historical and cultural artifacts; arrowheads, old medicine, bottles, figurines, tools, jewelry, shell mounds, hooks, paddles, spears, and horseshoes. Previous researchers have listed approximately 500 000 artifacts within these regions. The prehistoric humans in these areas performed activities like fishing, gathering, trading, and hunting; hence, artifacts related to these activities are majorly located in this area.
While doing my research project in the Bay Area, I would adopt the processual paradigm approach to collect, analyze, and compile my data. Processual archelogy is sometimes referred to as the new archeology because it incorporates logical positivism and the scientific method to collect data. It is a method that many archeologists have adopted since the 1960s since it is more of a problem-solving technique that provides advancement of existing knowledge regarding culture (Lucas 260-270). Therefore, through adopting this technique, I believe I would be able to add to the research on the Bay Area’s culture.
In any archeological project, there are essential steps that each archeologist needs to follow. They include; Background research, survey, excavation, analysis, and dissemination. Background research refers to maps and any historical record to retrieve information about the area archeologists need to visit for their project (Brughmans 440). The information acquired here is essential because it guides tools when one is already at the site. As an archeologist, you will know exactly when to expect hence important for planning appropriately. I would do a background study of the Bay Area by downloading the area map and mapping the coordinates of the area that I should cover. I would also research existing journals and articles about the culture that I would encounter regarding the Ohlone people of the Bay Area.
Conducting a survey is the next step that any archeologist would follow. It involves walking through the selected area of research and collecting data by observing, interviewing, measurements, experiments, sampling, and questionnaires (Brughmans 440). In my project, I would use survey methods of observing, interviewing, and experimenting. Through observing, I would be able to acquire first-hand information necessary for the analysis of data. I would also conduct one-on-one interviews with the Bay Area residents regarding what they know about their prehistoric activities. Further, I would also do experiments to uncover the age of the materials collected, whether modern or historic.
Excavation is another step where an archeologist digs out material remains buried in the ground to expose them for analysis. Excavation takes time depending on the depth of the materials and the instruments used to dig since some tend to be slower than others (Brughmans 440). I would perform the excavation process by using tools like shovels, sieves, brushes, and trowels. During excavation, I would employ individuals to help in digging, especially if the materials are deep.
An analysis is where archeologists assemble all obtained material remains, information gathered, and the observation made and come up with meaning to the culture that early individuals practiced (Brughmans 440). For example, when looking at a hook, the archeologists can conclude that these tribes practiced fishing or a spearhead tells more about their hunting practices. I would analyze my data by considering the age of material remains and the environmental consideration.
Dissemination is the final where an archeologist spreads the information acquired while doing this project for a particular group of people. After analyzing and interpreting the data, the information needs to be known by other researchers or people interested in knowing the culture of that group to be informed (Brughmans 440). For example, I would disseminate the culture of Ohlone people by publishing my project to the national journals and articles for other historians to access the copy of my project.
Summarily, archeology is a discipline under anthropology that deals with studying people’s culture in the prehistoric era by analyzing artifacts that early people left behind. Therefore, historical and cultural archeology is the significant artifacts that archeologists should expect in the areas they choose for their project. In any archeological project, archeologists will follow the following steps; background study, survey, excavation, analysis, and dissemination.
Works Cited
Brughmans, Tom. “Thinking through networks: a review of formal network methods in archaeology.” Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory 20.4 (2013): 623-662.
Lucas, Gavin. “The paradigm concept in archaeology.” World archaeology 49.2 (2017): 260-270.
Nagarajappa, Anil Kumar, Neha Dwivedi, and Rana Tiwari. “Artifacts: The downturn of CBCT image.” Journal of International Society of Preventive & Community Dentistry 5.6 (2015): 440.
Spaulding, Albert C. “Explanation in archeology.” Archeology in cultural systems. Routledge, 2017. 33-39.
https://cejce.berkeley.edu/ohloneland#:~:text=The%20present%2Dday%20Muwekma%20Ohlone,Verona%20Band%20of%20Alameda%20County.
