Information from the Museum of London about archeology
Archaeologists:
What they do: Archaeologists study past human life by examining physical remains like tools, pottery, structures, and human bones.
How they work: They use careful excavation, surveying, and dating techniques (like carbon dating) to interpret artifacts and sites.
Goal: To understand how people lived, worked, worshipped, and interacted in different periods and cultures.
Significance: Their findings fill in gaps where no written records exist and help confirm, challenge, or enrich historical narratives.
Historical Writing:
What it is: Historical writing involves creating accounts or interpretations of the past using evidence from written sources, oral traditions, and sometimes archaeological data.
Historians’ role: Historians analyze documents, compare sources, and construct arguments to explain historical events or trends.
Challenges: Biases in sources, incomplete records, and differing perspectives can complicate historical writing.
Purpose: To preserve knowledge, understand human development, and provide context for current events.
Connection Between the Two:
Archaeology often complements historical writing, especially in periods where written records are scarce or one-sided.
Together, they give a fuller, more accurate picture of human history.
