archaeology | Three Weeks For Dreamwidth - Frequently-Or-Not-So-Frequently-Asked-Questions about Archaeology

berangere posting in

archaeology

Hello Community !
I have been wondering lately what we could do for the "Three Weeks for Dreamwidth" event, and

trouble , in the

history community, pointed to this really interesting project hosted by

dingsi : collect -and answer to- frequently, and not so frequently, asked questions about a subject. It started with questions about Germany and now deals with a bunch of various subjects. I may be participating in the French prompt, hosted by

snakeling , but I thought we may host one here too !

So let me introduce you to

Three Weeks for Dreamwidth
Frequently-Or-Not-So-Frequently-Asked-Questions about Archaeology !

That's easy : you leave a comment here with
- a question you always have wanted to ask about archaology
OR
- a topic you always have wanted to explain to the world.

It can be anything, as long as it has a link with archaeology. I think even archaeology in fiction works as literature or cinema should be OK. Always wanted to understand C14 dating ? Think that Dreamwidth needs to know about de Han dinasty of China ? Need a bibliography about a certain topic ? Want to know how to determine if a patella is a right one or a left one ? Just propose a prompt.

Then go read the comments to browse the prompts and reply to the one(s) you would like to answer to, saying you'll propose an answer.

I'll edit this post with the list of subject proposed and of prompts.
To make things easier, please use [prompt] and [taken] in the subject of your comment.

Three Weeks for Dreamwidth will begin on April the 25th, so the entries will have to be posted from this date and for three weeks. You can post your entries in this community to make it a little livelier or/and in your own journal. If you prefer not to post / crosspost to this community, be sure to comment here with the link to your article on your journal, and I'll update this post with a direct link.
Even if it is supposed to last only three weeks, I'll go on updating this post if people go on proposing answers to the questions asked.

I really hope this event will be as successful as it seems to be on the other areas concerned !

List of prompts and articles

legislation : preventive archaeology requested by

trouble
⇒ France and Japan cases, written by

berangere

archaeometry : the use of other sciences in archaeology, requested by

yvi
⇒ archaeology and molecular biology, written by

berangere
⇒ archaeology and its use of other sciences, written by

berangere

archaeology in fiction : favourite and least favourite depiction of archaeology, requested by

snowynight
⇒ article waiting for you opinions !

physical anthropology : sex diagnosis from skeletons, requested by

vacillating
⇒ article written by

marshtide
⇒ article written by

ossamenta

physical anthropology and archaeozoology : studying dead things, requested by

lilmoka
⇒ article written by

marshtide

buildings archaeology : the use of archaeology in the study of architecture, requested by

sbrackett

ETA 25th of April :
A community has been created for the ones who do not want to post their articles on their own journal :

fonsfaq
I think I'll crosspost everything I'll write, for a better accessibility to everyone on Dreamwidth.

Current Mood: cheerful
Current Music: 氷川きよし - 夕焼けとんび

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From:

trouble

I would really like to learn more about archeology in cities. They're building a new library here and they're letting the archaeologists in to do some work before they start building. What do archaeologists look for, and what's it like with a really short turn around time?

From:

berangere

I think this have to do with legislation about preventive archaeology (what we are allowed to do, how long are we allowed to do it and who pays for this ?).
I can answer this for France. And probably for Japan with a few researches.

Another important part would be the differences between preventive archaeology and planned excavations. I think this part would be pretty the same all over the world, but who knows ?

So, if anybody has knowledge of how it works elsewhere, feel free to write an article !

From:

berangere

Here is the link to the article :

http://archaeology.dreamwidth.org/4071.html

Feel free to ask for details if I missed the point !

From:

yvi

I would like to know what modern scientific methods (especially to do with molecular Biology, but feel free to mention others) are used in archeology and for what.

From:

berangere

I just drop a line to tell you I will write this article if nobody else volunteer, so, be sure your questions will be answered.
I'll just wait a little in order to give somebody else the chance to take the prompt and make this project merrier.

From:

berangere

here is your reply : http://archaeology.dreamwidth.org/4864.html

From:

berangere

Here is the reply concerning the other sciences :

http://archaeology.dreamwidth.org/5301.html

From:

snowynight

What's your favourite and least favourite depiction of archaeology in fiction?

From:

berangere

Since this will differ depending on the person, I think I will create a thread in the community in a few days, and everybody will be able to give you a personal answer in the comments.

From:

snowynight

Thank you.

From:

berangere

the article has been created : http://archaeology.dreamwidth.org/4154.html

You can add your favourite ones in the comments !

From:

vacillating

(Not like that!) I've often wondered how archaeologists determine the sex of a skeleton - I know there are differences in the pelvis, but what else is taken to be a clue? I'm also curious about how accurate it is, and whether anyone's done any studies on that.

From:

marshtide

I'll take this! :) I'm not working in archaeology any more but once upon a time I was a bone person.

From:

berangere

I am just so glad some people volunteer !
As a funeral paleoanthropologist myself I could have written the two articles about bones too but I am so happy you volunteered !
Really, this just made my day ! Thank you !

From:

marshtide

*wry* I just hope I can do them justice, now I see there are people currently working on this stuff onboard! It's been a few years, and all that.

From:

berangere

I'm sure it will just be great !

From:

marshtide

oh err, forgot to put taken in the title. *facepalms*

From:

ossamenta

I'll write that one, probably crossposting to my own journal and

archaeology. Do you have any follow-up questions for your prompt?

From:

vacillating

Not really, no. I guess it might help to know a bit about my background as it informs the slant of this question - my interest in archaeology is mostly pagan-reconstructionist, so I'm often looking at stuff about sites from prehistory, and also that I have a strong gender studies background, so I'm wary of the male skeleton = man, female skeleton = woman system which is often in operation in reports of finds.

From:

berangere

Thank you so much for volunteering ! I must confess I thought you would be the perfect person to deal with the bones subjects, but I did not dare to contact you directly. I am glad you found this project !

From:

ossamenta

but I did not dare to contact you directly.
Next time, just do so - I won't bite :-) . I got into this a bit late, but I blame lots of things to do at work and general Easter holiday computer downtime.

From:

berangere

Well I thought "maybe she's seen it but do not have time at the moment, what if I ask her and then she feels more or less obliged to participate or has to refuse but feels bad for it ?".
I think the Japanese "I-by-no-means-want-to-put-the-other-party-in-a-socialy-delicate-situation" way of thinking is growing on me. I remember the time when I swore it would never happen. I'm doomed... >__

From:

berangere

A link to your article has been added to the list !

From:

marshtide

Right, here is my answer! I've focused more on the things people look at and the advantages/problems than on specific accuracy studies, though there's a little of that too.

From:

berangere

The link has been added to the main article !

From:

lilmoka

(Not the tv show, btw.)

Archaeologists study dead people and animals, among other things. Do you need to know a lot of anatomy to put everything back into place (humerus =/= shinbone and so on)? And how does it feel to touch/watch/discover things that have been dead and hidden for ages?

Please don't tell me I'm creepy /o\

From:

marshtide

I would never!

I'll take a shot at this one, since bones are my thing.

From:

lilmoka

*GLEE*

From:

marshtide

And here is your answer! ^^

From:

ossamenta

Don't worry, you're not creepy. And if people tell you that you are, remember that you're in good company :-) There are many people out there who find bones fascinating.

From:

lilmoka

Eh, thank you <3

May I ask about your icon? Looks like a skull to me, but I don't think it's human...

From:

ossamenta

It's a weasel skull.

From:

lilmoka

Cutest. Thing. Ever *_*

From:

sbrackett

I would like to know more about how archaeology can be used to study architecture, buildings, and the like. I am interested in everything from Sumerian Architecture, to Incan, to English Manor Houses.

From:

berangere

I added your prompt to the list, under the category "buildings archaeology".
There is a precise dénomination in French for this type of archaeology (archéologie du bâti), could anybody give me the denomination in English, as I suppose there is one either ?

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Page Summary

trouble - PROMPT
yvi - PROMPT: Archeology and modern scientific methods
snowynight - Prompt: Archaeology in fiction
vacillating - Prompt: sexing skeletons
lilmoka - Prompt: Bones.
sbrackett - Prompt: Archaeology and Architecture

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