Archaeology involves carefully digging up and studying artifacts and remains to piece together clues about past civilizations. Over time, soil erosion and other factors cause ground levels to rise, preserving evidence underground that can provide insights if excavated properly. While archaeologists only find a small fraction of available evidence, combining discoveries with previous findings helps them solve the puzzle of past human life and culture.

1. Archaeology
Digging Up the Past

2. Archaeology

3. Archaeology
Greek for ‘the study of what
is ancient’

4. Archaeology
Greek for ‘the study of what
is ancient’
Where evidence found:

5. Archaeology
Greek for ‘the study of what
is ancient’
Where evidence found:
in the ground

6. Archaeology
Greek for ‘the study of what
is ancient’
Where evidence found:
in the ground
under buildings

7. Archaeology
Greek for ‘the study of what
is ancient’
Where evidence found:
in the ground
under buildings
deep at the bottom of the
ocean

8. What archaeologists find?

9. What archaeologists find?

10. What archaeologists find?
Primary Sources

11. What archaeologists find?
Primary Sources
written documents

12. What archaeologists find?
Primary Sources
written documents
pottery

13. What archaeologists find?
Primary Sources
written documents
pottery
ruins of buildings

14. What archaeologists find?
Primary Sources
written documents
pottery
ruins of buildings
human remains

15. What archaeologists find?
Primary Sources
written documents
pottery
ruins of buildings
human remains
animal or food remains

16. What archaeologists find?
Primary Sources
written documents
pottery
ruins of buildings
human remains
animal or food remains
clothing...

17. Why dig up the past?

18. Why dig up the past?
Information found can
help us today.

19. Why dig up the past?
Information found can
help us today.
Gives us pride about who
our ancestors were and
what they did.

20. Why dig up the past?
Information found can
help us today.
Gives us pride about who
our ancestors were and
what they did.
Links us to our human
ancestry

21. Rising to the Challenge
Today
Roman Times

22. Rising to the Challenge
Over time, the ground level rises:
Today
Roman Times

23. Rising to the Challenge
Over time, the ground level rises:
soil erosion, Today
Roman Times

24. Rising to the Challenge
Over time, the ground level rises:
soil erosion, Today
rivers flooding or
changing course,
Roman Times

25. Rising to the Challenge
Over time, the ground level rises:
soil erosion, Today
rivers flooding or
changing course,
demolished buildings,
Roman Times

26. Rising to the Challenge
Over time, the ground level rises:
soil erosion, Today
rivers flooding or
changing course,
demolished buildings,
garbage,
Roman Times

27. Rising to the Challenge
Over time, the ground level rises:
soil erosion, Today
rivers flooding or
changing course,
demolished buildings,
garbage,
people moving dirt
with their feet. Roman Times

28. Rising to the Challenge
Over time, the ground level rises:
soil erosion, Today
rivers flooding or
changing course,
demolished buildings,
garbage,
people moving dirt
with their feet. Roman Times
The city of London, UK has risen
more than 1 full story in its 2000
year history.

29. Fraction of the evidence

30. Fraction of the evidence
Find only small amount
of items or remains for
each civilization

31. Fraction of the evidence
Find only small amount
of items or remains for
each civilization
Making guesses
(educated guesses) about
people from the past

32. One Giant Puzzle

33. One Giant Puzzle
Small objects do not tell much about the past civilizations by
themselves.

34. One Giant Puzzle
Small objects do not tell much about the past civilizations by
themselves.
Combined with other objects, ruins, remains, and previously
collected evidence, they can help us piece together a bit
more.

35. One Giant Puzzle
Small objects do not tell much about the past civilizations by
themselves.
Combined with other objects, ruins, remains, and previously
collected evidence, they can help us piece together a bit
more.
Never ending puzzle that is past civilizations.

36. Tools of the Trade

37. Tools of the Trade
Must work carefully - fragile artifacts

38. Tools of the Trade
Must work carefully - fragile artifacts
Must keep very detailed notes on what they found
and where they found it

39. The Afterlife

40. The Afterlife
Many past cultures believed that we could take
items from this world to the ‘next life’.

41. The Afterlife
Many past cultures believed that we could take
items from this world to the ‘next life’.
Buried everyday items they
thought they might need.

42. The Afterlife
Many past cultures believed that we could take
items from this world to the ‘next life’.
Buried everyday items they
thought they might need.
Most items stolen or destroyed.

43. The Afterlife
Many past cultures believed that we could take
items from this world to the ‘next life’.
Buried everyday items they
thought they might need.
Most items stolen or destroyed.
Remaining items give
archaeologists insight into daily
life the past .

44. Just Garbage?

45. Just Garbage?
Some of the greatest evidence of a past society
comes from their garbage (or even their
toilets) -kitchen midden.

46. Just Garbage?
Some of the greatest evidence of a past society
comes from their garbage (or even their
toilets) -kitchen midden.

47. Just Garbage?
Some of the greatest evidence of a past society
comes from their garbage (or even their
toilets) -kitchen midden.
What would your garbage
say about you?

48. Past Problems

49. Past Problems
Archaeology became prevalent during
the 19th century.

50. Past Problems
Archaeology became prevalent during
the 19th century.
Less ‘study’ and more ‘competition’.
Nations sent teams all over the globe
to collect as many artifacts as they
could and bring them back to their
own museums.

51. Past Problems
Archaeology became prevalent during
the 19th century.
Less ‘study’ and more ‘competition’.
Nations sent teams all over the globe
to collect as many artifacts as they
could and bring them back to their
own museums.
Not much attention to detail

52. Past Problems
Archaeology became prevalent during
the 19th century.
Less ‘study’ and more ‘competition’.
Nations sent teams all over the globe
to collect as many artifacts as they
could and bring them back to their
own museums.
Not much attention to detail
Many sites damaged or destroyed

53. More Trouble Ahead?
Modern
archaeology
strives to save
the past while
also studying
it. However,
modern issues
can still get in
the way.