ARCHAEOLOGY: Applying typological concepts to a world you know well: the world you live in - Assignment Example

Part A. Pretend that you are sherlock Holmes entering an unknown house. Assume that you can obtain observations on any objects you might find in this household. What kind of objects (aside from papers, picture, books, and magazines) do you think would be most useful for determining? 1. The occupation of the household head? Clothes and tools would be a big indicator of the occupation of the household head. Uniforms could identify specialized professions like nurses, engineers, and so forth. Tools like a drafting board, hammer or chains saw could identify an architect, construction worker, or woodcutter. 2. The location of the household within contemporary political boundaries (between provinces/countries)?

Electrical sockets could tell the difference between Canada/America and European countries. North America uses primarily 110 for appliances and 220 for dryer and air conditioners/heaters. Europe uses 220 throughout the region. The prongs are also different. Cars from different regions would also be a sign. Coins would be a clue. Furnishings could be a factor. Japanese furniture would differ from furnishings in Europe and the West. 3. What religion the household belongs to? Jewellery would be a major clue.

Prayer beads, crosses, Stars of Davids, and bracelets could tell whether Catholic, Jewish or Hindu. Prayer shawls, turbans, full veiled dresses, or clothes with no adornment could tell if the individuals were Jewish, Muslim, or Amish. PART B Construct a list of three major attributes that you feel would be of the most value in creating 2 of the 4 typologies listed below. Try to use attributes that will create the maximum regolution(distinction) for each problem. Choose two problems from the following four, and list the attributes you would use to construct: 1.

A typology of twentieth-century automobiles that can be used to identify the time period that cars were built in. I would use paint color, glass, and seats to identify the era or time period the cars were built in. This method would identify to at least the decade the car was made in. Paint color would be used in two manners. First is analysis of the elements the paint was made of and the colors itself. For example a paint made in 1920 would not be as synthetic as 1990 paint. The different popular colors would also be a clue.

A lime green or burnt orange would be around 1960. Black would be 1920-30’s. The 1950’s would be softer colors or shaper colors like baby blue or true red. The consistency of the glass would be a clue. No glass would be in the 192­0’s. Thick true glass would be in the 1930’s. A thinner or tinted glass would be more modern. The shape of the glass would also be a good indicator. Whether a glass could be raised or lowered manually or automatically would be a clue. Seats would be another clue.

Hard bench seats would be of an early era. An upholstered bench seat in the front would be a 1950’s car. Leather seats separated by a console would indicate a car from the 1990’s. These three factors could determine the era of car. 4. A typology of footwear that reflects occupational specialization. Three ways of typing a shoe with an occupation would be heel, material and shape. A high heel could indicate a secretary, fashion model or professional woman. A low show would mean some who was on their feet all day like a waitress, nurse or doctor.

Material would be essential in determining occupation. A canvas shoe would indicate a nurse or waitress. A steel toed leather boot would indicate a construction/outdoor profession. The shape would tell if the shoe was boot, running shoe, canvas, or high heel. This could determine a nurse, construction worker, gardener, or secretary. PART C Two thousand years from now the glaciers are advancing and the entire lower mainland has all but been abandoned. You are an archaeologist surveying the Lower Mainland. 1. Your job is to formulate a list of 13 different types of sites within a 100-mile radius of old Vancouver. 1. Vancouver, British Columbia-Large urban centre. 2. Abottsford, British Columbia-Large urban centre. 3. Anmore, British Columbia-Rural Village 4.

Blaine, Washington-Small City 5. Bowen Island, British Columbia-Island Municipality 6. Pitt Meadows, British Columbia-Suburbia 7. Whistler, British Columbia- Resort Municipality 8. Squamish, British Columbia-District Municipality 9. Belcarra, British Columbia-Village 10. Chilliwack, British Columbia-Large urban centre 2. Characterize the diversity of site types in the Lower Mainland. Do you think the diversity of site types has increased or decreased from the Paleolithic to the present? Explain why you think this change might have occurred.

The areas chosen range from a large urban centre like Vancouver to an Island Municipality of Bowen Island to an Anmore a rural village. I know the diversity has increased from the Paeolithic to the present. During the Paleolithic era only Native Canadians/Americans existed in this region. Today the majority of the region is made up of European descent, Chinese, and other various minorities. The region around Vancouver is a coastal area. This allowed canoe and ships to travel along the coast for travel and migration over the years.

The advancement in travel, technology, and increasing population made this increase in the diversity. 1. Vancouver, British Columbia-Large urban centre 2. Abottsford, British Columbia-Large urban centre. 3. Anmore, British Columbia-Rural Village 4. Blaine, Washington-Small City 5. Bowen Island, British Columbia-Island Municipality 6. Pitt Meadows, British Columbia-Suburbia 7. Whistler, British Columbia- Resort Municipality 8. Squamish, British Columbia-District Municipality 9. Belcarra, British Columbia-Village 10.

Chilliwack, British Columbia-Large urban centre 3. Finally, pick three specific sites from the examples you have used above, including Vancouver as one of your sites. Indicate practical reasons why you think each of these three sites is located where it is. 1. Vancouver, British Columbia-Large urban centre: I believe this is a large urban centre due to the remains of buildings left in the ruins, bodies of the ancient people, and artefacts like jewellery. 2. Bowen Island, British Columbia-Island Municipality: This area would be determined to be an island due to the landmass under the ice.

This island would have different buildings and artefacts. A smaller amount of remains would be found here. 3. Whistler, British Columbia- Resort Municipality: This would be identified by ski lift remains and lodge remains. A small amount of remains would be found here.