Archaeology in Action: Five Case Studies

This chapter has detailed five case studies of archaeological field projects that have, in one respect or another, advanced our knowledge in important ways. In this activity you will construct a case study of your own.

To do so, first choose a site. It can be one mentioned in this book, one that is in your local area or state, one that you have visited in the past, or one that you have heard about or come across online.

Once you have selected a site, use the following questions to help develop your case study. You should be able to find much of the information from internet sources and in the library. If you can select a site near where you live you may also be able to get information from a local museum or the site itself.

If you are stuck try looking at the case study of Khok Phanom Di, Thailand, that is discussed in Chapter 13 of your book, for inspiration.

Where is the site located?

Can people visit the site? Are the finds displayed in a museum?

Who excavated the site, and when did they do so?

What were the aims of the project?

What was left of the site? Comment on its preservation.

When was the site inhabited?

What was the environment like at the site when it was occupied?

What information did the site yield about social organization?

What did the occupants of the site eat?

What type of technology did they have?

What contacts did they have with other sites?

Why was the site abandoned?

What scientific methods were used at the site by archaeologists?

How is the site viewed by local people today?