Archeological Features, Artifacts and Ecofacts - Essay Example

ArchaeologyQuestion 1 Archeological features, artifacts and ecofacts are analyzed through several methods. The artifact analysis entails determining the sources of raw materials for the objects under study, and the manufacturing process involved, and the applications. Raw material sources are determined through trace element analysis. The process studies the chemical component of the artifacts, and the likely geographical sources through x-ray fluorescence. Ecofact analysis entails studying the diet of past people, bones and plant remains.

Carbon isotopes from the remains of plants are applied in determining the changes in plant communities that are unique to continents or regions (Alison, 2014). Analysis of the archeological site is done through key stages. The archeological sites entail the places where proof of past human presence can be collected. The evidence includes skeleton remains of the human ancestors, artifacts objects, and ecofacts elements. Sites are developed through formation processes. For example, dead bodies can be ceremonially buries, and tools can be lost.

Site preservation is done by natural process. The ash from volcano or the silt from flood water can cover objects, and thus preserve them for several years. Sites can also be found by natural process like erosion. The Olduvai Gorge located in Tanzania, was exposed through erosion (Gilman, 2012). Archaeologists apply several techniques. The archeologists apply experimental replication to analyze tool artifacts. The process aims at authentically redeveloping the ancient artifacts, and hence determines the process of making the tool.

The date of the specimen or archaeological site is done through radioactive decay technique. The technique analyses the radioactive isotopes of common elements like carbon, uranium and potassium. Identifying the sex skeleton is done by the sex dimorphism technique. For instance, the male human skeleton is always larger, rougher and denser than the female skeletal bones.Question 3 The Upper Paleolithic period is illustrated through drastic changes in the human culture, especially in the Europe, Asia and African regions.

Greatly, the changes are developmental as illustrated by the anatomically modern man of Africa. Superior tools were identified in Africa. One example involves the stone blade tools aged 90,000 years, which were found in Katanda, Zaire. Polished bone tools aged 77,000 years were found inside the Blombos Cave, South Africa (Robert & Wendy 2011). The tools illustrates technology explosion in the area of stone and bone tool development. The Upper Paleolithic period showed dramatic development in lithic technology, as indicated by the production of blade equipment or tools.

Other characteristics entails; increased interest in subsistence production, bigger site size, application of raw materials such as bone and shell, development of the nonutilitarian objects, elaborate burials, and development of true art through portable sculptures and the cave painting processes. These tools and art are considered as modern aspects of human development. The first artistic expression attributed to the anatomically modern human ancestors is identified in the Pinnacle Cave, South Africa.

Archeologists identified red ochre pieces, aged 164,000 years. The ochre pieces may have been developed by using the ochre powder and glue to develop tools. Blade making technology was illustrated in Africa, Europe and Asia during the Upper Paleolithic period. Development of elongated blade tools took place approximately 52,000 years ago in Ksar Akil (Gilman 2012). ReferencesAlison, Wylie. (2014). Thinking From Things: Essays in the Philosophy of Archaeology. Berkeley: University of California Press.

Gilman, Antonio. (2012). Explaining the Upper Palaeolithic Revolution. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell.Robert, Sharer & Wendy, Ashmore. (2011). Archaeology: Discovering our Past. NY: Wiley.