Archaeology is the science of studying the human past. It is a proper discipline which following its own rules and theories as well as mostly depending on the scientific method.
At the end of the process of archaeological research, there can be one of two products; i.e. compilations or explanations. Compilations are the most unique way of the report writing in Sri Lankan archaeological project. Such a report will include the findings of exploration or excavation by using the ''information language''. Tables, graphs, charts, lists, maps and drawings can consist of in this language. There can be analytical data given, but no interpretations following such.
Oppose to a compilation, the explanations will be considering the archaeological record more deeply with a theoretical approach. Such are attempting to reconstruct the past by using the material remains. It goes beyond reporting the intrinsic properties of the artefacts for reconstructing a phenomenon which is not directly observable. An analysis is an essential part of this process.
Analysis can briefly be defined as detection of relations, orders and structure in the data. In the natural sciences, a researcher can use several constant factors against one varying factor and identify the patterns and relations among them. However, except in experimental archaeology, this is hard to apply directly in archaeology. Most of the archaeological studies are ''retrospective'' which using a homogenous sample from a population with one or few varying attributes. Much of the archaeological studies depends on the analysis of different types of sites, or sites in different locations or time of the site were in function. The main analytical attributes considering in an archaeological study can be listed as,
All about Archaeology is knowing the truth by travelling to the past in the most reliable method. Selecting the correct approach is also depends on the level of the researcher's authenticity. It is not a surprise the current social discussion of Sri Lankan archaeology is largely dominating by the instincts rather than actual retrospect.
References
Banning E.B, 2002, The Archaeologist's Laboratory: The analysis of archaeological data, Kluwer Academic Publishers, New York
At the end of the process of archaeological research, there can be one of two products; i.e. compilations or explanations. Compilations are the most unique way of the report writing in Sri Lankan archaeological project. Such a report will include the findings of exploration or excavation by using the ''information language''. Tables, graphs, charts, lists, maps and drawings can consist of in this language. There can be analytical data given, but no interpretations following such.
Oppose to a compilation, the explanations will be considering the archaeological record more deeply with a theoretical approach. Such are attempting to reconstruct the past by using the material remains. It goes beyond reporting the intrinsic properties of the artefacts for reconstructing a phenomenon which is not directly observable. An analysis is an essential part of this process.
Analysis can briefly be defined as detection of relations, orders and structure in the data. In the natural sciences, a researcher can use several constant factors against one varying factor and identify the patterns and relations among them. However, except in experimental archaeology, this is hard to apply directly in archaeology. Most of the archaeological studies are ''retrospective'' which using a homogenous sample from a population with one or few varying attributes. Much of the archaeological studies depends on the analysis of different types of sites, or sites in different locations or time of the site were in function. The main analytical attributes considering in an archaeological study can be listed as,
- sites
- types
- functions
- chronology
- correlations
- valid scales of measurement
- error detection methods for above
''You can smell the truth by your instincts. But, the instincts can never reveal the real truth. Anyway, you can recreate a copious amount of stories by using your instincts, though not truth....''
All about Archaeology is knowing the truth by travelling to the past in the most reliable method. Selecting the correct approach is also depends on the level of the researcher's authenticity. It is not a surprise the current social discussion of Sri Lankan archaeology is largely dominating by the instincts rather than actual retrospect.
References
Banning E.B, 2002, The Archaeologist's Laboratory: The analysis of archaeological data, Kluwer Academic Publishers, New York
