The modern era is marked by an unfathomable surge in data collection every passing second. In the mere seconds it took you to click on this article, over 3.8 thousand terabytes of data were generated. To put it in perspective, just 1 terabyte can store 500 hours of high-definition videos – that's more than 20 days of uninterrupted TikTok watching!
One undeniable truth is that our lives are extensively documented. If we were to suddenly vanish without Elon Musk's interstellar rescue mission, our entire existence could be reconstructed by any intelligent extraterrestrial observer. Every aspect of our lives - our eating habits, sleep patterns, hobbies, likes, and dislikes - is etched into the digital ether, a testament to the power of data.
However, this level of documentation is a unique characteristic of the present day. What about the lives of those who lived long before us? When did they dine or rest? What were their hobbies, likes, dislikes, and beliefs? These are questions that archaeology endeavors to answer.
Archaeology delves into the human past by examining material remains, such as objects people used, modified, or crafted. Archaeologists frame questions and construct theories. They meticulously choose excavation sites, utilizing scientific sampling methods like remote sensing, the science of obtaining information about objects or areas from a distance, typically from aircraft or satellites. Their findings are categorized, analyzed, and interpreted, then shared with the public and fellow scientists. The most valuable findings for archaeologists are artifacts, a usually simple object that shows human workmanship or modification, distinguished from a natural object.
Artifacts serve as invaluable windows into the past. These remnants speak volumes about people's lives in specific times and places. For instance, in 2011, archaeologists stumbled upon a macabre discovery in northern Egypt – 12 dismembered hands buried in the earth. While the initial assumption was that these amputations were punitive, recent scholarship suggests a more intriguing narrative. These severed hands were likely integral to a ritual known as the "gold of honor," where warriors presented the severed hands of their rivals as a gesture of reverence to the Pharaoh.
Archaeologists categorize artifacts into typologies and decipher information about ancient humans through their analysis. Consider your clothes as a typology - from childhood to adulthood, changes in style, color, and brands reveal much about your growth, evolving interests, fashion trends, and more. Typology helps unravel the story behind the objects. In the ruins of Pompeii an extraordinary treasure trove of artifacts has been unearthed, thanks to the catastrophic volcanic eruption that acted as a preserver of objects frozen in time. Archaeologists, through the usage of typology, have meticulously reconstructed the minutiae of daily life in the city just before the cataclysmic eruption.
All in all, artifacts can tell archaeologists a lot about ancient cultures, their technologies and their lifestyles. But even more details can be easily obtained from the writings left by ancient civilizations.
While written records are a relatively recent development in the grand tapestry of human history, they are a goldmine for archaeologists studying past civilizations. Even seemingly mundane ancient texts that mostly document transactions provide vital insights into people's lives. These texts disclose details about diets, available foods, costs, traditions, belief systems, governance, trade, wars, and discoveries. They shed light on the social, political, and economic facets of ancient societies.
Studying things left behind by ancient cultures, archaeologists realized that important details can be obtained not only from the material legacy, but more so from the immaterial legacy, the knowledge passed down through generations. Preserved oral traditions among native populations are a boon to archaeologists. By maintaining these traditions, archaeologists can glean valuable insights into historical customs, daily routines, and traditions through ethnographic research and interviews. By comparing archaeological findings from various locations and eras, archaeologists can discern patterns and trends in daily life, trading networks, and cultural exchanges.
Studying ancient civilizations, with so many missing details and scant information, is inherently speculative. Certainty is rarely attainable. Yet, modern technology has revolutionized archaeology, providing high-tech tools for analyzing archaeological sites and contributing to a surge in discoveries. Collaborating with experts from fields such as geology, chemistry, and physics has enabled archaeologists to comprehensively gather and analyze information about ancient humans.
All in all, certainty remains elusive, even in the present moment. We can only strive to gain more and more information about the prior occupiers of the land we inhabit to help us build a better future. That is the only lasting legacy of our ancestors: a hope for a better tomorrow.
Bibliography:
https://www.filemail.com/content/blog/how-much-is-1tb-of-data-storage/#
https://ilovehistory.utah.gov/how-do-archaeologists-know-stuff/
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/archaeology/
https://daily.jstor.org/how-do-archaeologists-know-where-dig/
https://www.spatialpost.com/applications-of-remote-sensing-in-archaeology/
https://live.staticflickr.com/3946/15607472376_35dbbe9730_b.jpg
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