ARCHAEOLOGY AND THE HUMAN PAST

Prehistory vs. Archaeology Prehistory - human history before the advent of written records (writing and calendrics). Pasts - historical past - prehistorical past - other pasts (geological, biological, evolutionary, mythical, religious, political, imaginary). North Carolina and Southern Appalachians - prehistoric to historic periods 1540 Hernando de Soto - contact 1566 Juan Pardo 1585 Roanoke settlement 1690s early traders - protohistoric 1710 historic (sustained contact w/ written records) Old World - beginning of historic periods 3500 B.C. Mesopotamia 10,000 - tokens w/ geometric shapes 10,000 - 6,000 BC 4000 B.C. - cuneiform 3500 BC Crete (Minoan Linear B) 3000 BC Dynastic Egypt 2500 - 1700 BC Indus Valley (Indus script) 1400 BC China (Shang Dynasty) oracle bones --> scapulimancy --> 5000 characters 250 BC nw Europe (runes) 400 AD Celts

HOW CAN WE THINK ABOUT THE PAST?

Belief Systems ("origin myths") - special exemption for humans All answers known Cannot be "tested" - one believes Multiple realities (conflicting religious claims) For Example - The Medieval Paradigm of the Past The world was thought to be of recent, supernational origin and unlikely to last more than a few thousand years (4004 BC - Archbishop James Ussher) The physical world was in an advanced state of degeneration - most natural changes due to the decay of God's original creation

Humanity was created by God in the Garden of Eden (located in the Near East) and spread to other parts of the world due to...................................................................................