Aramina asked:


Hey everyone,

I’m going to my first archaeology conference. There will be a dinner tomorrow night and I’m wondering if anyone knows how dressy people usually get at conference dinners? Skirts, slacks, jeans?

Thanks for the help! I’m going to be at the conference all day so I have to bring everything with me which is why I can’t ask people once I get there tomorrow.

Christine

John W. Martin asked:


Archaeology – Uncovering Tangible Remains from Our Past



http://www.yallways.com

Archaeology is the study of physical remains and artifacts left by past societies. Archaeologists use these tangible recoveries to study various societies and trace the cultural evolution of mankind. To find answers to the questions they study, archeologists participate in geological surveys, excavations, historical preservation, and scientific experiments. Thus, Archaeology becomes a combination of field work, anthropological study, geology, and other disciplines.

There are numerous archaeological finds which cannot be definitively explained by modern researchers. For example, instances of monumental engineering have been studied by archaeologists for years with not conclusive explanation for why or how they were constructed. Among the most prominent examples of this are Stonehenge, the Easter Island statues, and the Mayan ruins. Similarly, large-scale drawings etched into the ground in South America, known as the Nazca Lines, have confounded archaeologists studying the region. On a smaller scale, there exist countless paintings and statues whose identity and purpose cannot be clearly defined by archaeological research.

Some archaeologists have proposed interesting theories to explain mysterious finds. Among the most popular is the paleocontact hypothesis. According to this proposed explanation, extraterrestrial visitors had a significant impact on the archaeological finds we have recovered. Most notably, artifacts depicting religious figures are said to be representations of alien visitors. Thus, it is claimed that various societies’ gods were actually living beings from another planet. Additionally sculptures, such as those found in Peru and Egypt, are believed by some to be representations of spacecraft.

Those archaeologists who focus their efforts on artifacts outside the realm of what can be easily explained are said to participate in cryptoarchaeology. Cryptoarchaologists focus on sites that remain a mysterious part of the historical record. This includes all the aforementioned monumental constructs as well as many others. Cryptoarchaeology also focuses on smaller finds whose purpose cannot be clearly identified. Unfortunately, some items studied within this field, such as the crystal skulls uncovered in the Americas, are considered hoaxes by other scholars. Thus, Cryptoarchaeology is frequently criticized for its use of non-traditional research methods.

Cryptoarchaeology is but one of many sub-sectors in the archaeological field. Another discipline of note is archaeoastronomy, which is the study of how societies have viewed and understood phenomena in the sky. Researchers in this field focus on several types of archaeological finds. For one, they study constructions of the land to determine if a particular location has some astronomical significance. For example, there are theories that the Pyramids of Egypt were built with a connection to specific stars. Archaeoastronomers also study the instruments and tools past peoples would have used to observe the skies as well as paintings and other artwork which reflect astronomical phenomena. In addition to using physical artifacts, archaeoastronomy entails the use of statistics, astrological study, and anthropology.

Archaeology is an intensive field of study. It combines back-breaking field work with scientific research and deductive reasoning. Thus, archaeologists are some of the top scholars in the field of historical research and anthropology. With only a small percentage of archaeological sites having been thoroughly excavated, this field of research continues to grow. With continued study, it is likely that we will gain a more thorough understanding of our historical past and the evolution of the human race.



Mark

Stefano Loi asked:


In Sardinia is possible to enjoy a holiday in lots and different ways. The geological nature of the territory, its climate and geographic position make Sardinia a special and unique place.

WHY SARDINIA

Everyone arriving in Sardinia for the first time has the feeling of entering another world consisting of endless spaces and majestic landscapes.

Surrounded by the sea, Sardinia, in fact, features a unique, unmatched territory.

The island, due to its insular position and historical events, is one of the Mediterranean areas where popular traditions are less contaminated by the outside world.

Just think of the fascinating domus de janas, the origin of nuraghes or tombe dei giganti (the giants’ tombs), the Sacred Wells, the mysterious menhir dating back to the Bronze Age.

BEACHES AND NATURE

Costa Smeralda is surely the most renowned place in Sardinia not only for its constant society life, but also for its unforgettable beauty.

A charming and contradictory environment, characterized by the wild and proud Mediterranean shrub-land (Macchia or Maquis), strange-shaped white granite rocks, beaches, coves and bays that your eyes have never seen yet.

Created in 1962 thanks to a daring and innovative project, Costa Smeralda always rejected the idea of becoming a devastating concrete wave that confronts the sea, and chose to be an example of urban development for the world-wide seaside tourism.

Costa Smeralda keeps its peculiarity and it’s a model of progress, success and development that preserves a magnificent and sometimes majestic heaven; uncontaminated but never impenetrable; wild and hospitable at the same time.

Its name is a homage to its green and turquoise waters, embraced by white and fine sandy beaches which are themselves caressed by the sweet waves of its clear and transparent waters.

Are there uncontaminated beaches in the Mediterranean Sea?

Are there dream places even far from Caraibi?

Of course! You can find them in Sardinia! The Gulf of Orosei is probably the most fascinating area of the Island and it is ready to offer you all its splendour and all the colours, scents and sensations that only few beaches in the world can boast.

Far from the sumptuous society life and the world of fake-VIPs, far from the stressful “beach-umbrella fights”, far from the stereotypes but close to the beautiful and gratifying view you dream of.

Are you ready to go on a binge of beauty?

There’s a Sardinia made of sport, fun and real life just waiting for you!

ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY

Megalithism spread on the island from 2500-1800 BC, with dolmen – simple burial chambers made of massive upright stones set into the ground and covered by a capstone and by perdas fittas (pierced stones), monoliths forming a circle that often bordered the tombs. Towards the 16th century, the nuragic civilization developed, leaving 7000 nuraghes behind; the latter is a megalithic construction with one or more towers, interconnected with each other between galleries and ring-like corridors, with central aisle, pointed arch, defensive terraces and brackets.

Usually, near Nuraghi there are the Giants’ Tombs, collective megalithic burial places formed by a corridor covered with exedras and bordered by smooth plates, with central monolithic stele and doorway called “delle anime” stand. The cult of water was evidence of religious faith and in its honor well temples or sacred wells were raised: these constructions feature ceiling stairs down to the level of groundwater (wells) under a false dome structure. The construction technique is more refined than that used for nuraghes, as witnessed by the sacred well of Santa Cristina in the province of Oristano.



Lance

Ashleigh m asked:


I,ve been looking for schools with good archaeology. I’ve found a lot but there not really what I’m looking for. I’m thinking Oxford, but my mom want’s me state bound, and I would prefer a christian college.

Jorge

Aoureliou Televko asked:


Greece, many wonders are popping into my minds that are associated with this word. Greece is the country that has everything: a very rich history, many legends, mighty mythical Gods and picturesque views of its lands and sea. It is a sin not to travel at least once in a lifetime to Greece and plunge into its culture and beauty. Everyone has to try and enjoy living in a bed and breakfast made to look in appearance like Flintston’s house with a luxurious modern touch and unique charm.

People are attracted to Greece like a magnet for a few main reasons.

First, they want to visit archaeological sites there like:

1. Acropolis and Parthenon.

2. Kerameikos Ancient Cemetery of Athens Archaeology Site and Museum.

3. Monument of Lysicrates.

4. Electeion

5. Temple of Zeus Olympios (Olympieion).

6. Athens favorite sunset spot – Cape Sounion in Attica

Second, Greece offers grate fun under the sun on its beaches.

Third, some people are just curious and want to expend their knowledge about Greeks culture. In some cases, it is a call to explore theirs family Greek history. The best way to go there is to fly directly to Athens. In Athens are many things to see and enjoy. No trip to Greece can be complete without visiting attraction #1 there – Acropolis that is crowned with Athena’s most famous temple Parthenon. It is a magnificent site to see. It was made more than 2500 year ago, and a big part of it was destroyed by fire and many earthquakes, but in spite of all that it is still astonishing in its appearance.

Attraction #2 – would be Kerameikos Ancient Cemetery of Athens Archaeology Site and Museum. The best time to visit it is late winter early spring when is the rain season. The ruins and all around them are covered then with succulent and vibrant grass giving the place a look of Ireland during summer. It is very beautiful and you can see many artifacts, which will give you a very good idea about how life was in ancient times. It is much to say about different attractions in Athens, but you do not have to stop and see just this city. Greece is a peninsula and is surrounded by 1400 islands. Traveling from one island to another is a hall adventure by itself. I will mention just a few of the most popular and famous Islands. The island of Crete is the biggest of them all. The island can be considered as a new country in itself. It has good roads on the northern side and many archaeological sites to visit and enjoy.

The interior is covered by mountains, and the southern part of the island is less developed then its northern region. One of the archaeological sites there would be The Minoan Palace of Knossos. You can just take a bus to this place and enjoy the restored labyrinths of the palace. Another Island that captured my attention with its exceptional beauty is the island of Santorini. The capital city of the island is Fira. It has superb white buildings with serpentine stairs that take you down to the sea. White churches have blue domes, making the look of the building blend with the blueness of the sky. It is a grate and romantic place were to get married or enjoy a honeymoon. If you do not have enough time to travel far from Athens, then visit island of Hydra. It is more expensive than other islands but has a charming harbor, good taverns, fun shopping stores. It is much more to go and see in Greece. Travel agencies offer tones of cruises and tours. You just have to invest some time in investigating what kind of vacation you are seeking there. You may find everything from spontaneous and more independent trips by car or bus, to very well guided trips, organized by the travel agencies. It doesn’t matter what kind of personality you have, you may find all sorts of sites and activities to enjoy, making unforgettable memories.



Erik

Dr.Badruddin Khan asked:


Before the advent of absolute dating methods in the twentieth century, nearly all dating was relative. The main relative dating method is stratigraphy which is the study of layers of rocks or the objects embedded within those layers. This method is based on the assumption (which nearly always holds true) that deeper layers of rock were deposited earlier in Earth’s history, and thus is older than more shallow layers. The successive layers of rock represent successive intervals of time. Since certain species of animals existed on Earth at specific times in history, the fossils or remains of such animals embedded within those successive layers of rock also help scientists determine the age of the layers. Similarly, pollen grains released by seed-bearing plants became fossilized in rock layers. If a certain kind of pollen is found in an archaeological site, scientists can check when the plant that produced that pollen lived to determine the relative age of the site.

Absolute dating methods are carried out in a laboratory. Absolute dates must agree with dates from other relative methods in order to be valid. The most widely used and accepted form of absolute dating is radioactive decay dating.  Radioactive decay refers to the process in which a radioactive form of an element is converted into a nonradioactive product at a regular rate. The nucleus of every radioactive element (such as radium and uranium) spontaneously disintegrates over time, transforming itself into the nucleus of an atom of a different element. In the process of disintegration, the atom gives off radiation. Hence the term radioactive decay has been coined. Each element decays at its own rate, unaffected by external physical conditions. By measuring the amount of original and transformed atoms in an object, scientists determine the age of that object.

The age of the remains of plants, animals, and other organic material can be determined by measuring the amount of carbon-14 contained in that material. Carbon-14, a radioactive form of the element carbon, is created in the atmosphere by cosmic rays. When carbon-14 falls to Earth, it is absorbed by plants. These plants are eaten by herbivorous animals who, in turn, are eaten by carnivorous (even larger) animals. Eventually, the entire ecosystem of the planet, including humans, is filled with a concentration of carbon-14. As long as an organism is alive, the supply of carbon-14 is replenished. When the organism dies, the supply stops, and the carbon-14 contained in the organism begins to spontaneously decay into nitrogen-14. The time it takes for one-half of the carbon-14 to decay (a period called a half-life) is 5,730 years. By measuring the amount of carbon-14 remaining, scientists can pinpoint the exact date of the organism’s death. The range of conventional radiocarbon dating is 30,000 to 40,000 years. With sensitive instrumentation, this range can be extended to 70,000 years. In addition to the radiocarbon dating technique, scientists have developed other dating methods based on the transformation of one element into another. These include the uranium-thorium method, the potassium-argon method, and the rubidium-strontium method.

Thermoluminescence dating is very useful for determining the age of pottery. When a piece of pottery is heated in a laboratory at temperatures more than 500°C (930°F), electrons from quartz and other minerals in the pottery clay emit light. The older the pottery is the brighter will be the emitted light. Using thermoluminescence, pottery pieces as old as 100,000 years can be dated with precision. Known as dendrochronology, tree-ring dating is based on the fact that trees produce one growth ring each year. Narrow rings grow in cold or dry years, and wide rings grow in warm or wet years. The rings form a distinctive pattern, which is the same for all members in a given species and geographical area. Thus, the growth pattern of a tree of a known age can be used as a standard to determine the age of similar trees. The ages of buildings and archaeological sites can also be determined by examining the ring patterns of the trees used in their construction. Dendrochronology has a range of 1 to 10,000 years or more.



Oscar

Coral asked:


The state doesn’t matter; I currently live in Maryland, but plan on getting out of here when I turn 18. Also, what is any other information you could give me on archaeology? Like are there any summer programs I can do while in high school? What classes should I be taking while I’m in high school?

Dustin

Douglas Scott asked:


Although the smallest of all the Andean countries, The Republic of Ecuador holds historical, cultural and natural wonders befitting an entire continent. Straddling not only two hemispheres but also two worlds, the ancient and the modern. This tiny republic with its remnants of past civilizations and Spanish conquests offers the traveller a striking blend of landscapes, peoples and cultures.

From ancient markets of the indigenous peoples, Amazon tributaries, Inca ruins, Andean peaks, 16th century churches, and the wildlife rich Galapagos Islands, Ecuador boasts an incredible diversity which belies its diminutive size. Indigenous cultures, tropical forests, active volcanoes, and a wealth of animal and bird life are all highly accessible within a matter of hours in a country no bigger than the US State of Colorado.

Once the Inca Empires northernmost territory, successive waves of invaders have left their indelible mark on the country. The remains of Inca and pre Inca fortresses dot hill tops across the Sierra, while in the highland valleys Quechua speaking Indiana sell traditional handicrafts in thousand year old markets. The beautifully preserved cities of Quito and Cuenca, both rich in 16th century art and architecture, and the elegant colonial haciendas found throughout the conquests and three hundred years of Spanish rule.

The Ecuadorian Dollar is the official unit of currency, but the US Dollar is accepted throughout Ecuador at equal value.

Temperatures and rainfall vary depending on the region, altitude, and seasonal factors

The Ministry of Tourism is working on many projects to develop tourist activity in Ecuador. In the Ministry section you will find detailed information on these projects, institutional information, and important contacts of the different offices within the Ministry.

Ecuador has many tourist destinations where you can participate in a variety of activities. You can practice mountain biking, climbing, rafting, or scuba diving, as well as visiting archaeological sites, museums, or theatres.

Straddling the equator, this small nation is richly endowed with snowy Andean peaks towering over emerald green slopes, rivers winding through tropical jungles, and beyond all this in the Pacific, lie the Galapagos Islands. Located in the Pacific Ocean and approx. 1000 km off the coast of Ecuador, directly on the equator, the isolation of the islands has permitted life forms to evolve into species found only in Galapagos. This was observed by Charles Darwin, and his research contributed to the fame of the islands. It is a dramatic and beautiful world of volcanic landscapes and fearless animals: Giant Tortoises, Fur Seals, Sea Lions, Land and Sea Iguanas and many species of birds. A visit to this impressive wildlife sanctuary will be a memorable experience for those who appreciate nature.



Arnold

medic8613 asked:


Looking for a college that offers a degree in archaeology somewhere in the northeast…I hope. Any colleges would be helpfull.
For anyone else who answeres:
I may be young, but am not a woman…I think my paramedic education covered the difference…

My grades were average and my ACT scors were…not so good. I will be relying heavily on my charming personality, essay writing abilities and my credentials as a paramedic at the age of 20.

Tyler

Questions asked:


What classes should I take at my community colleges. I know there are many types, i know its just not called archaeology.
I read somewhere about certain topic classes i should take, i cannot find them again. Please provide me with some helpful info, it would help me alot.

Corey