Development of Archaeology over Time

By caiitlin

  • 18th Century

    The approach was treasure hunting. There were no scientific techniques used. Artifacts were found by luck.

  • 19th Century

    Scientific techniques were introduced, stratigraphy was used to interpret the past, and dating techniques enabled the chronological order of finds from a site to be determined.
    Examples:
    1. Box grid method excavated Maiden Castle in England
    2. Used crude excavation methods; discovered Troy and the Mycenaean civilisation
    3. Sequence dating in Egypt and Palestine

  • 20th Century

    Developed a system to organise artifacts indicating ownership and period of time, detailed recording and conservation as well as the study of artifacts to discover more.
    Examples:
    1. Developed concept of culture, group of artifacts identifying a particular group of people
    2. Intact tomb provided valuable information on royal burials
    3. Discovered tomb of Tutankhamun
    4. Revealed and named the Minoan civilisation