Received: 25-Jul-2022, Manuscript No. GJASSE-22- 71948; Editor assigned: 29-Jul-2022, Pre QC No. GJASSE-22- 71948 (PQ); Reviewed: 12-Aug-2022, QC No. GJASSE-22- 71948; Revised: 19-Aug-2022, Manuscript No. GJASSE-22- 71948 (R); Published: 26-Aug-2022, DOI: 10.15651/GJASSE.22.10.006
Archaeology is the study of the past of humanity via tangible artefacts. Any item that people developed, altered, or utilised can be considered one of these remains. Typically, artefacts are portable remains. Tools, apparel, and ornaments are examples of artefacts. Ancient civilization is the subject of archaeology. Archaeologists are curious about how people lived, worked, traded, traversed the landscape, and believed in the past. We might be able to comprehend our own society and that of other cultures better if we can understand the past.
Antiquarianism in Europe throughout the 19th century gave rise to archaeology, which has subsequently spread to other parts of the world. Nation-states have exploited archaeology to construct unique historical narratives. Since archaeology's inception, other specialised sub disciplines have emerged, including marine, feminist, and archeoastronomical archaeology. In addition, a wide range of scientific methods have been developed to assist in archaeological research. However, there are still numerous issues that archaeologists today must deal with, including faux archaeology, artefact thievery, a lack of public interest, and hostility to the excavation of human remains. One of the first examples of archaeology can be found in the writings of the Indian scholar kalhana from the 12th century, who documented local customs and examined texts, inscriptions, coins, and buildings. One of his best-known works is rajatarangini, which was finished around 1150 and is regarded as one of India's early history books. The some of the famous archaeologists around the world are famous Archaeologists - Scientists, Inventors and Explorers - School directory. Jean Francois Champollion (1790 - 1832), French philologist and orientalist: the decipherer of the Rosetta stone hieroglyphs in 1822. Howard Carter (1874 - 1939), English archaeologist and Egyptologist: discovered the Tutankhamen's tomb. By 1974, a collection of events had been connected to form a significant narrative known as the Sacrifice Ceremony. The characters were strange, with incredibly elaborate costumes and decorations. University of California-Los Angeles researcher Christopher Donnan persisted in his explorations of the Moche remains. In order to obtain new information and specifics on prior materials recovered; he has discovered more tombs (Donnan 2001). A more thorough understanding of Moche culture is developing as work progresses. More Moche graves were found in a valley miles away in 2009, indicating that the Moche may have possessed a centralised polity (Atwood 2010), albeit not everyone agrees with this conclusion.
The Branches of Archaeology
There are many different subfields in archaeology. The majority of these classifications are made according to the historical period or region being investigated. Materials dating from times after the invention of written records are generally considered "historical," although historical times are frequently given other names depending on the region. Materials from the time before written history are generally considered "prehistoric," and materials dating from those times are generally considered "historic." Some archaeologists focus on technologically advanced eras like the Stone, Bronze, and Iron Ages. Some archaeologists focus on all eras for a certain geographical area, such North America or Southeast Asia. Others specialise in specific areas of archaeology, such as environmental archaeology, which examines the interactions between ancient humans and their environment.
Prehistoric archaeology: Prehistoric archaeology examines the activities of men before written records were kept. Before writing, it provides us with information about the past of a place, a nation, a people, or a race. It is independent of contemporaneous or later writers' accounts. Consequently, it might also be described as a history of the preliterate or illiterate population or culture. Written records or other documents are necessary for historical archaeology. In this, the works of literate people are studied. The gap between prehistoric and historical archaeology is filled by proto-historic archaeology.
Prehistoric archaeology's nature involves the rigorous effort of scientific investigation, the finding of historical artefacts, and the use of one's imagination. For instance, it involves working in the heat or conducting an excavation in the deserts of Rajasthan or Mesopotamia; it also entails working with real Eskimos in Alaska's snow to document their continuing customs. It is exploring the ancient civilizations of India (Harappan civilization), China (Yangshao culture), or America by diving down to the ancient remains of Dwarka on the western coast of India (Gujarat), or to Spanish Wrecks on the coast of Florida (Folsom culture).
Historical archaeology: A branch of archaeology is called historical archaeology. As the field has developed over the past few decades, there has been some discussion about its specific definition. Historical archaeology, strictly speaking, is the study of societies that have left behind historical records. The majority of these items are written, but oral narratives may also be used. The start of the historical era occurs at many diverse times around the world. To further confuse matters, a grey region between "prehistory" and "history," commonly referred to as "protohistory," exists. Consequently, this rigorous definition is trickier to understand than it first appears.
Historical archaeologists who research the time of the arrival of the Europeans look into issues like early intercultural contact and how colonists established communities and adapted to new conditions. In the study of later periods, topics of interest include how the struggle for independence manifests itself in the material culture, the lives of enslaved or newly free people, urbanisation, industrialization, the archaeology of institutions like prisons and asylums, conflict and warfare, farmsteads, factories and labour, capitalism, mass production, transportation systems, trade networks, infrastructure, and any intersection of those with class, race, and gender.