Archaeology studies human remains and artifacts to learn about the past. Different types of archaeology include underwater, ethnoarchaeology, and aerial archaeology, each with unique challenges and methods. Underwater archaeology requires special equipment, while ethnoarchaeology studies living groups to gain historical insight. Aerial archaeology uses aircraft and satellites to gain a new perspective on historic areas and reveal previously invisible details. In some cases, aerial archaeology is the only way to view a location properly, such as the ancient geoglyphs in Peru’s Nazca Desert.
Archeology is a scientific discipline that analyzes human remains and artifacts to learn about the past. All types of archeology are based on the study of material culture, which includes most of the physical objects used by humans. While each of the individual archeology types has the same goals, some specialties have unique challenges. Underwater archeology deals with wrecks or ruins submerged in the sea. Ethnoarchaeology combines the examination of historical artifacts with the study of currently living cultures, while aerial archeology uses imagery from satellites and aircraft to gain a new perspective on a historic area.
Underwater or marine archeology often requires special equipment and knowledge. This is one of the types of archeology that deals with ships or old architectural places that are inaccessible from land. Many shipwrecks contain important information about a culture’s trade or military history. In some cases, cold water can help preserve artifacts and provide a unique perspective of the past. Marine archaeologists often use scuba gear, waterproof cameras, or even underwater robots to survey a submerged site.
Most types of archeology focus primarily on the past. Ethnoarchaeology takes a somewhat different approach and seeks to study living groups to gain historical insight. With this method, scientists typically spend time with the direct descendants of an ancient group and use their observations to improve the archaeological record. An example of ethnoarchaeology might be a scientist who lives with a primitive tribe in Africa and compares their method of making spears with archaeological finds of similar ancient tools.
Technological advances such as aircraft and satellites have led to new types of archaeology. By studying a site from above, scientists can visualize a place in the context of the surrounding landscape. This helps experts visualize the relationship between the earth and a man-made structure. Aerial archeology can also reveal details or features that were previously invisible. Shadows created by changes in the terrain can provide clues to buried artifacts.
In some cases, aerial archeology is the only way to view a location properly. Ancient geoglyphs in Peru’s Nazca Desert, for example, are nearly invisible from the ground. A bird’s eye perspective reveals shapes and designs that were unknown to observers before the 1930s. In the 21st century, the availability of advanced imaging satellites has allowed archaeologists to study many formations in great detail. Some archaeologists use infrared satellite imagery to detect objects that are buried out of sight and discover interesting places that were previously obscured.
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