Development of Understanding of the Past by the Early Antiquarians Up to the Eighteenth - Coursework Example

From Antiquarianism to modern archaeology Development of understanding of the past by the Early Antiquarians up to the eighteenth century Antiquary is the term used up to the mid 18th century to describe the person with interest of collecting and studying antiquities. The antiquarians possessed an interest in death decay and the unfashionable. They focused on obscure and arcane details in their perceptions, a factor that lacked awareness of the realities and practicalities of modernism and the wider currents of history. Thus, from this aspect, they found themselves in the middle of ridicule later after the establishment of elaborate disciplines of studying history (Ferguson 2009, p 27). Nonetheless, the antiquarians facilitated a significant development to the understanding of the past unto the 18th century when other disciplines emerged. The general work of the antiquarians featured on collection relics such as, of artifacts, monuments and ancient documents and books. They built extensive collections to form the basis for their studies. In view of the critiques of the antiquarians work, they accused them of lacking taste and aesthetics, urging them to include such motivations in their interest of the primitive past. However, the antiquarians retaliated to the ridicule from the critiques by stating that they made informed findings from facts not theories. Thus, in this view, they contributed to the development of understanding of the past by collecting such artifacts, analyzing them and providing their findings to the public. This initiated the understanding of the past from the study of such historical relics such as ancient documents, artifacts and monuments (Levine 2002, p. 45). The antiquarians were first discipline of study to focus on understanding the culture and existence of the past, unlike historians of the time whose studies had little effect on understanding the past. Their study focused on empirical evidence of their findings; hence, they made a significant breakthrough in understanding of the past. For instance, in Europe, with antiquarians such as Flavio Biondo, whose interest in the remains of Greco-Roman civilization provided the rediscovery of classical culture (Levine 2002, p. 67). John Leland and William Camden provided surveys of the English countryside, providing the drawings and descriptions and interpretations of the monuments they encountered. Thus, from such antiquarian establishments, people get the understanding of the past. Moreover, antiquarianism is the seed of modern archeology among several other disciplines, which is evidence of its significance in understanding the past. It is from Scandinavian antiquarians such as C. J. Thomsen and J. J. A Worsaae that proposed incorporation of modern dating systems such as stratigraphy and three age system, initiating further developments into understanding the past (Levine 2002, p. 106). However, some critiques argued that antiquarianism forged little correlation linking the past and present as it only focused on the study of the relics and artifacts, and neglected the history part of such findings. Nonetheless, despite the antiquarians possibly lacking the understanding of cultural values and historical contest of the periods in study, their approaches such as reconstructing material culture of the past from their findings contributed significantly in understanding of the past. It facilitated the excavation of artifacts and their preservation for historical remembrance. Additionally, its contribution to historical study and development of archeology as a discipline are also among its achievements in contributing to the understanding of the past. Significance of key methodological and theoretical developments to archaeological study Tentative progressions towards the systemization of archeology began with the Antiquarians with the enlightening of Europe in the 17th and 18th century. Archeology as a discipline developed officially from antiquarianism in 19th century (Greene & Moore 2010, p. 31). Over the years, it developed several methodological and theoretical developments to understanding the past through archeological studies. These concepts include the following among many others. The three-age system is among these developments and its working focuses on classifying objects into one of three categories such as early, middle or modern age based on their design, material and characteristics among other features. It is useful for establishing the origin and history of virtually any artifact such as weapons, pottery or jewellery. It classifies archeological findings from clear indicators and is relatively cheap; however, it is theoretical hence dates may be inaccurate. Nonetheless, it contributed significantly to the development of archeology (Greene & Moore 2010, p. 73). Another key development is typology dating of material, which could date any artifact including weapons, tools and pottery among others. This methodology focused on aspects and characteristics of an object such as its architecture or design to determine the age. The theoretical rule of this methodology is that earlier objects are simpler while later objects are more elaborate. Its significance is that it enabled understanding of the development of a design over time. The establishment of stratigraphic dating methodology contributed significantly in the study of archeology as it helped date anything in the site including human remains, artifacts and weapons. It entails excavation of the site, examining the layers of soil, with the assumption that the oldest findings are the ones at the bottom and newest at the top. It helps understand the development of civilization over time; however, it does not give exact dates. Another development is radio carbon dating, developed later in the 20th century. This scientific approach helps date objects and remains or organisms for up to 50,000 years back. It measures the radioactive emissions of remain, with the theoretical base that the older the organism, the more emissions it gives. It facilitated the dating process as it incorporated aspect of relatively accurate dates of the findings. Thus, it is significant as it increased accuracy in the study of archeology. Another modern development in archeology is the accelerator mass spectrometer (ams) dating method, in which it applies the same principle as radio carbon dating (Greene & Moore 2010, p. 112). However, this methodology facilitates a higher accuracy degree and measures up to 70, 000 years back in life. Today, there are developments in dating methods such as the use of thermoluminescence in dating the age of virtually any object depending on its emission of light upon heating. The theory is that the more light it gives, the older the object. This methodology is significant as is applicable to objects that radiocarbon methods cannot work. Moreover, further developments in the study of archeology include the application of technological advances today including the science of remote sensing to locate archeological sites for study. These developments are significant as the facilitate archeology and make the work of archeologists simpler (Ferguson 2009, p 167). The methods of dating also improved over time creating elaborate and accurate systems of dating; hence, easier study in archeology. The nature of archaeological theories of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Century’s to understanding the past The establishment of archeology in the nineteenth century saw increased excavations by the founders of the discipline. Among the contributors into the initial theories of archeology, is William Cunnington, whose collaboration with Stephen and John Park of Heytesbury saw the initiation of several terms of archeology, which are still in use today. In his excavation through the Bronze Age barrows, he established the application of stratigraphy (Ferguson 2009, p 97). Stratigraphy entails the idea of overlapping strata as it traces back to successive periods. Thus, this theory developed into the process of conducting excavations in the form of boxes or open excavations, paying attention to the layers of the site in excavation. His theory focused on establishing the date of the findings through studying the material content of the layers. It was among the first reliable methods of dating, incorporating careful excavation procedures taking caution not to destroy evidence. The study focused on establishing the culture of people through the material artifacts they found within the debris they excavated. Thus, through this stratified approach to archeological excavations, the methodology facilitated the understanding of the past of people. Another key theory developed in the early 20th century in the study of archeology directed towards understanding the culture of people is ethno-archeology (Marwick, Fairbairn & O’Connor 2009, p. 67). Although it is a discipline of its own, its theoretical basis is from archeology as it seeks to understand the culture and origin of people through study of the evidence left behind by past humans. The theory bases on the assumption that humanity and culture evolved over time through gradual changes within the culture and practices of humanity. Thus, it applies the study of the past remains such as objects, jewellery and tools among other findings to establish the culture and practices of past human groups. Its reliance on excavation findings makes it key in the study of archeology; since, it facilitates understanding of past of people through application of historical archeological findings conducted through the various methodologies of archeology. Bibliography Ferguson, J. (2009). Archaeology as a subject of antiquarian study. Charleston, BiblioLife. Greene, K., & Moore, T. (2010). Archaeology. Hoboken, Taylor & Francis. Accesed from http://public.eblib.com/EBLPublic/PublicView.do?ptiID=544025. Levine, P. (2002). The amateur and the professional: antiquarians, historians, and archaeologists in Victorian England, 1838-1886. Cambridge [Cambridgeshire], Cambridge University Press. Marwick, B, Fairbairn, A, & O’Connor, S 2009, New Directons in Archeological Science (TA28), n.p.: ANU E Press, OAPEN Library, EBSCOhost, viewed 17th Marrch 2014 Read More