Archaeology is often misunderstood. We’re frequently confused with other “ologies,” like geology or paleontology. Learn more about the discipline of archaeology and how we learn more about life in the past in this video series.
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How do archaeologists use GPS?
Center for Archaeological Studies
Archaeologists use GPS technology to create digital maps of archaeological sites. In our Ask an Archaeologist series, we answer commonly asked questions about archaeological terms and processes. This video was produced by the USA Center for Archaeological Studies and Motivation Media Inc. as part of the I-10 Mobile River Bridge Archaeological Project. This project was funded by the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Project partners include the USA Center for Archaeological Studies, Wiregrass Archaeological Consulting, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the USA African American Studies Department.
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What are Aritfacts and Features?
Center for Archaeological Studies
Archaeologists divide finds into two categories: artifacts and features. In our Ask an Archaeologist series, we answer commonly asked questions about archaeological terms and processes. This video was produced by the USA Center for Archaeological Studies and Motivation Media Inc. as part of the I-10 Mobile River Bridge Archaeological Project. This project was funded by the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Project partners include the USA Center for Archaeological Studies, Wiregrass Archaeological Consulting, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the USA African American Studies Department.
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What do archaeologists map?
Center for Archaeological Studies
Archaeologists make many different maps to record fieldwork. In our Ask an Archaeologist series, we answer commonly asked questions about archaeological terms and processes. This video was produced by the USA Center for Archaeological Studies and Motivation Media Inc. as part of the I-10 Mobile River Bridge Archaeological Project. This project was funded by the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Project partners include the USA Center for Archaeological Studies, Wiregrass Archaeological Consulting, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the USA African American Studies Department.
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What happens to the artifacts?
Center for Archaeological Studies
This video unpacks archaeological lab processes and shares what happens to artifacts after they are excavated from an archaeological site. In our Ask an Archaeologist series, we answer commonly asked questions about archaeological terms and processes. This video was produced by the USA Center for Archaeological Studies and Motivation Media Inc. as part of the I-10 Mobile River Bridge Archaeological Project. This project was funded by the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Project partners include the USA Center for Archaeological Studies, Wiregrass Archaeological Consulting, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the USA African American Studies Department.
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What is Archaeology?
Center for Archaeological Studies
Archaeology is the study of past human life through the things they left behind. In our Ask an Archaeologist series, we answer commonly asked questions about archaeological terms and processes. This video was produced by the USA Center for Archaeological Studies and Motivation Media Inc. as part of the I-10 Mobile River Bridge Archaeological Project. This project was funded by the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Project partners include the USA Center for Archaeological Studies, Wiregrass Archaeological Consulting, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the USA African American Studies Department.
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What is Excavation?
Center for Archaeological Studies
Excavation is the scientific investigation of buried archaeological remains. In our Ask an Archaeologist series, we answer commonly asked questions about archaeological terms and processes. This video was produced by the USA Center for Archaeological Studies and Motivation Media Inc. as part of the I-10 Mobile River Bridge Archaeological Project. This project was funded by the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Project partners include the USA Center for Archaeological Studies, Wiregrass Archaeological Consulting, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the USA African American Studies Department.
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What is Stratigraphy?
Center for Archaeological Studies
The layers of soil at an archaeological site are called stratigraphy. In our Ask an Archaeologist series, we answer commonly asked questions about archaeological terms and processes. This video was produced by the USA Center for Archaeological Studies and Motivation Media Inc. as part of the I-10 Mobile River Bridge Archaeological Project. This project was funded by the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Project partners include the USA Center for Archaeological Studies, Wiregrass Archaeological Consulting, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the USA African American Studies Department.
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What is Water Screening?
Center for Archaeological Studies
Archaeologists use a water screen to sift sediment from an excavation. In our Ask an Archaeologist series, we answer commonly asked questions about archaeological terms and processes. This video was produced by the USA Center for Archaeological Studies and Motivation Media Inc. as part of the I-10 Mobile River Bridge Archaeological Project. This project was funded by the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Project partners include the USA Center for Archaeological Studies, Wiregrass Archaeological Consulting, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the USA African American Studies Department.