article thumbnail

How Colonialism Invented Food Insecurity in West Africa

Sapiens

Archaeological evidence and Oral Histories show people in what is today Ghana lived sustainably for millennia—until European colonial powers and the widespread trade of enslaved people changed everything. I felt compelled to share this story as an example of the power of archaeology to shift perspectives. It’s the year 2065.

article thumbnail

It’s Time to Replace “Prehistory” With “Deep History”

Sapiens

A team of archaeologists working in Southeast Asia is pushing toward a deeper understanding of history that amplifies Indigenous and local perspectives to challenge traditional archaeological timelines. This approach to archaeological research places value on the continuous cultural and social development of humans.

History 143
educators

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Application of Archaeological Anthropology and Cultural Resources Management

Anthropology for Beginners

Application of Archaeology Archaeology is the study of human past through material remains. Archaeology, then, is both a physical activity out in the field, and an intellectual pursuit in the study or laboratory. Here the methods of archaeology and ethnography overlap. How were those pots used?

article thumbnail

Ancient Hierakonpolis: The Earliest Evidence of Livestock Horn Modification

Anthropology.net

But recent archaeological findings reveal that even domestic livestock were transformed to project power and control. Credit: Journal of Archaeological Science (2024). This further underscores their ceremonial importance rather than economic utility. Journal of African Archaeology , 13(2), 187-206. DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2024.106104

article thumbnail

Archaeology of power and identity: the political use of the discipline

Anthropology for Beginners

style='mso-element:field-begin'> TOC o "1-4" h z u Archaeology of power and identity: the political use of the discipline. style='mso-element:field-begin'> TOC o "1-4" h z u Archaeology of power and identity: the political use of the discipline.

article thumbnail

Early Copper Crafting Among Anatolia's Last Hunter-Gatherers

Anthropology.net

​ a) Location of early metallurgical activities in Anatolia and Gre Fılla archaeological site. This suggests the existence of extensive exchange networks during this period, highlighting a level of socio-economic complexity not typically attributed to hunter-gatherer groups.​

article thumbnail

Humanity’s Oldest Ochre Mine: The 48,000-Year Legacy of Artistry and Symbolism in Eswatini's Lion Cavern

Anthropology.net

The Archaeological Process: Tracing Ochre’s Journey The analysis at Lion Cavern involved 173 ochre samples from 15 different sites across Africa. Localized techniques for sourcing ochre existed alongside long-distance trading, suggesting that ochre mining and use were integral to a broader social and economic structure.