ANT200H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Shang Dynasty, Historical Document, Oracle Bone
Document Summary
Oracle bones are pieces of turtle shell or bone used for divination in ancient china, with questions carved onto the bone or shell and the results carved or written next to the questions. Bamboo/wooden slips: one of the main media for literacy in early china, with texts written in ink on strips of bamboo or wood, commonly used from the 7th century bc. to the 4th century ad. The study of ancient garbage? (yet, but not a complete definition) Context: spatial (where?) and temporal (when?) questions. Chronometric (or absolute ) time vs. relative time. Environmental archaeology includes zooarchaeology, archaeobotany, sedimentology, and many other specialized sub-disciplines: argument: human behaviour is hugely determined by environment, but this is true to. Technology"s role as the interface between people and their environment: ex: how we have access to materials whereas in the past they had to select resources that some degree. were readily available.
