ANTH 9 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Poike, Scientific Method, Extended Memory
3 Sep 2020
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E. g. how would you describe this pot? (pic) Function: what was it used for-based on additional evidence. Meaning: what were the attitudes and beliefs of ancient peoples. We approach the archaeological record from western perspective but other societies may have seen objects very differently. E. g. how was farming practiced on easter island-rock gardens and not cleared fields. E. g. features on the landscape may have names and associated events. We develop models from which we develop hypotheses that are tested with new data and refined. E. g. julian steward and the shoshone indian annual subsistence round. Based on the ethnographic model what are the expected archaeological remains in certain environmental zones. We can approach a problem by evaluating the null hypothesis: Hypothesis: maya society collapsed as a result of drought that led to crop failure. We would look for evidence that contradicted this situation.
