via Rappler, 04 January 2024: Stephen Acabado’s monthly column on archaeology in Rappler challenges common misconceptions about archaeology, emphasizing its relevance beyond ancient artifacts to include contemporary objects and practices. It illustrates how everyday items like fast food packaging can be archaeological artifacts, providing insights into current cultures and societal trends. The article also underscores archaeology’s role in understanding and addressing modern challenges, such as climate change, by examining human-environment interactions.
So, have you ever thought that archaeology was solely about unearthing ancient bones and relics? It’s time to reconsider! Archaeology isn’t just about delving into the past; it’s a lens through which we understand our present and how our everyday objects may be perceived by future generations. To demystify archaeology, there is a need that the knowledge it produces should accessible. Appreciating the discipline means that we must dispel the misconceptions and define what it truly entails.
Traditionally, archaeology has been perceived as the study of human history by excavating and analyzing artifacts, architecture, and biofacts from the distant past. Indeed, it’s about piecing together the puzzles of past societies, from the opulence of their cities to the simplicity of their daily utensils, to form a picture of life as it was lived centuries or even millennia ago. However, this narrow view obscures the vital role archaeology plays in not only revealing our past but also understanding our present and informing our future.
Source: [Time Trowel] From ancient artifacts to today’s trash: Debunking misconceptions about archaeology
