Archaeology 101
Utah Prehistory Week aims to increase awareness about earlier cultures
From that time to this, an unfolding story of life has played out across our valley, our state, our region.
A lot can happen in 12,000 years, says assistant state archaeologist Ron Rood.
Sometimes we take that history for granted. But the study of earlier cultures can be important to our own, says Rood. "The more we learn about earlier cultures, the more we learn about their successes and failures, and, in turn, we find lessons for us."
That's the reasoning behind Utah Prehistory Week, which will be celebrated May 3-10, with a variety of activities going on statewide to call attention to the importance of archaeology and early human history.
This year Prehistory Week is also noting its 20th anniversary, says Rood. "It was started 20 years ago as Utah Archaeology Week. A lot of states started similar things to increase public awareness."
In connection with that anniversary, this year's celebration also includes an art show with photographs, sculptures, ceramics and more inspired by Utah's archaeological and paleontological past.
Rood also recently conducted a one-day seminar on "The Archaeology of Utah," which covered some of the basics of the art and science of archaeology.
It is not a dead science, he says. In fact, "with all the development along the Wasatch Front, new discoveries are happening all the time."
So, in honor of Utah's 20th Annual Prehistory Week celebration, here's a crash course in archaeology — answers to some of the commonly asked questions about what went on before.
Q: What is archaeology?
A: Archaeology is the study of human history and culture, based on documentation, analysis and interpretation of artifacts and sites.
It is NOT: simply digging and excavating sites, simply collecting artifacts, or much like Hollywood portrays it.
Q: How does archaeology fit in with other sciences?
A: Archaeology is a part of the larger field of anthropology, which is divided into biological anthropology (such things as biological history, physical characteristics, disease, genetics), linguistics (language, evolution of language and relationships) and cultural anthropology (culture, what makes us what we are, exotic differences and subcultures). Archaeology is part of cultural anthropology.
Recent comments
Archaeology can only show what is still present to see. The earth...
desrtrse | May 9, 2008 at 10:38 p.m.
What if the assumptions that faith is based on...are wrong?
For anonymous | April 29, 2008 at 7:52 p.m.
Archaelogy can only show the possiblities not what the absolute truth...
Anonymous | April 29, 2008 at 6:28 p.m.
