Changing archaeology

Modern archaeologists work in a different way to earlier ones

Early archaeologists or antiquarians were mostly interested in objects. They dug holes towards the centre of a barrow to find the primary burial. If the quickest way was to dig a tunnel, that is what they did. This destroys a lot of information as well as being very dangerous.

Modern archaeologists are more interested in the layers of soil. They provide lots of information about the history of a site. Soil is removed slowly and carefully with trowels. This ensures that even the smallest object is recovered. Today's archaeologists get to sit down on the job.

Early archaeologists were not interested in recording what they found on site. Thomas Bateman, the Derbyshire antiquarian, was one of the few who did. However, his plans are just sketches. There are no measurements. The plan records the objects, not their context.

Modern archaeologists record everything on site. Once the site is dug, all that is left is the records. This plan is also of a burial site. The arrow shows which way is north. Every stone is drawn and plotted on a site grid. This reveals patterns in the stones which help to understand the site.

Early archaeologists thought our ancestors were simple unskilled people. They thought working flint or shale was easy. Experimental archaeology shows how wrong they were. Working shale is hard and skilled work. Today we know prehistoric people were not savages.

Early archaeologists thought objects were only useful for dating. Today careful study tells us much more. This is where modern technology helps. X-rays can see inside a metal object. This helps to find out what it is. It also can tell us how it was made and how it was used.

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