Archaeology As a Source of Historical Information - History Notes Form One
Concept of sources of historical information
Historical knowledge is obtained through the examination of sources of historical information. One can obtain historical information from either primary or secondary sources.
Primary sources are original materials that provide first-hand information or direct evidence on a particular event. Primary sources are materials created by individuals directly involved in such events.
Such materials include memos, diaries, letters, artefacts, photographs, interviews, speeches, autobiographies, and official records. In addition, secondary sources are a product of primary sources.
Archaeology
Archaeology is the study of past human activities through material remains.
Examples of such material remains include pottery, hoes, utensils, bows, arrows, animal bones, seeds, ancient buildings, irrigation channels, and iron-smelting furnaces.
These remains are also called archaeological materials. A person who studies archaeology is called an archaeologist. Examples of such people are Dr. Louis Leakey and his wife, Dr. Mary Leakey.
These archaeologists worked at Olduvai Gorge in north-eastern Tanzania in Arusha region. They discovered the oldest known human skull in 1959. They named this skull Zinjanthropus boisei.
This skull is shown below and it is kept in the National Museum and House of Culture in Dar es Salaam.
The skull of Zinjanthropus boisei
Another example of archaeologists is Professor Felix Chami, a Tanzanian who has conducted archaeological studies along the coast of eastern Africa.
Other senior Tanzanian archaeologists include Amin Mturi, Simon Waane, Bertram Mapunda, and Audax Mabula.
Another example of an archaeologist is Professor Felix Chami, a Tanzanian scholar who has conducted extensive archaeological studies along the coast of East Africa.
Moreover, archaeological sites are places in which material remains of past human activities are found. In these sites, material remains may be found either above or under the ground, while some are found in caves.
Archaeologists use survey and excavation methods to discover archaeological materials. Using the survey method, archaeologists walk randomly or systematically around the area to find archaeological materials on the earth's surface. Conversely,
Places in which material remains of past human activities are found are called archaeological sites. In these sites, material remains may be found either above the ground or under the ground while some of them are found in caves.
Archaeologists use survey and excavation methods to discover archaeological materials. Using the survey method, archaeologists walk randomly or systematically around the area to find archaeological materials on the earth surface.
Excavation, on the other hand, is used to obtain archaeological materials, which were buried in the ground. Excavation is a systematic digging and removal of layers of soil to obtain material remains in them. This is done by using special equipment such as trowels, picks, shovels, and hoes.
During excavation, archaeologists record all objects or buildings excavation is used to obtain archaeological materials. Excavation refers to systematic digging and removing of soil layers to obtain material remains.
Excavators use special equipment such as trowels, picks, shovels, and hoes. During excavation, archaeologists record all objects or buildings found.
Archaeologists study and interpret the material remains to explain the relationship between them. For example, the discovery of human bones associated with stone tools may help archaeologists explain the culture of the people living in a particular place.
These archaeologists can also understand how those material remains were made and used. The information gathered is used to write the history of those who lived there. That is why archaeology is regarded as one of the sources of History.
Some of the famous archaeological sites in Africa are Olduvai Gorge (Arusha)- Tanzania, Great Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe), Timbuktu (Mali) and Fort Jesus (Mombasa Kenya), Carthage (Tunisia), and Axum (Ethiopia).
The Map Below shows some famous archaeological sites in Africa.
Functions of archaeology
Archaeology provides evidence of material remains used by ancient people. Examples of such remains are hoes, axes, arrows, and spears.
It enables archaeologists and historians to reconstruct past events using evidence from actual objects. For example, past settlement patterns can be reconstructed from excavated remains.
Furthermore, it provides historical knowledge about the past.
Advantages of archaeology
Archaeology is based on actual material objects. It uses material remains of objects made and used in the past. Therefore, it can describe people's past cultures more reliably than other sources.
In addition, archaeology contributes to History from its scientific methods. For example, historians can benefit from the carbon 14 dating technique, which archaeologists use.
Therefore, historians cooperate with archaeologists to date historical events and processes.
Furthermore, archaeologists excavate some materials and keep them in museums for future generations.
Equally significant, archaeological excavation has been instrumental in uncovering new findings or evidence in History. One example is the discovery of human footprint in 2016 at Laetoli Tanzania.
Limitations of archaeology
Some of the material remains cannot be recovered if damaged. Not all cultural remains survive long in the ground. Plants and some bones, when buried, decay quickly.
Therefore, some material remains that could tell about the past cannot be found for study.
Archaeological research requires large funding for purchasing excavation equipment, travelling to and from the sites, camping facilities, storage, as well as caring facilities.
The money required to meet these costs may not be available.
In addition, archaeological work is a long process that involves surveying, excavating the site to get the remains, and analysing the materials in laboratories. Therefore, archaeological work takes a long time.
Similarly, many archaeological sites are in remote areas. Some sites are found in very remote areas which cannot be reached easily. Sometimes, it becomes difficult for archaeologists to locate such sites.
Furthermore, shortage of personnel and equipment is another limitation of archaeology.
Archaeological excavations require highly trained people. However, such people are not always readily available.