ANTHRO 8 Lecture Notes - Direct Historical Approach, Mound Builders, Cyrus Thomas
Document Summary
Early period(late 1800s to 1960) of professional archaeology focused on time-space systematics. Anthropology began as an academic discipline in late 1800s in us. Early explanations based o antiquarian ideals - all people in written record. Used as justification for removal of american indians. Thomas jefferson conducted scientific excavations in 1784 (adena mound, west. 1800s working blind, written records with date and sites and they can read them. Work directly back from archaeological sites occupied in the historic record to understand link to prehistoric period. Associated with bureau of american ethnology - founded 1879. Cyrus thomas studied mound sites in 1880s(read written records) Various expeditions sent to southwest, mesoamerica, south america. One known date, dig down, lower in ground, older, but not how much earlier, not the era or age or specific time period. Stratigraphy: natural changes, the soil, wet and dry, tree rings. Seriation: ordering artifacts based on changes in physical styles. Supported direct historical approach with stronger empirical evidence.
