Ancient History Half Yearly 3

Front 1

Seriation (Artefact Sequencing)

Back 1

Dating the chronological sequencing of an object evolving over time e.g. quantifying the change in styles of pottery over time (some had handles some didnt).

Front 2

Two methods of body preservation

Back 2

- "Accidentally" (By nature)
- "Deliberately" (By other members of their society)

Front 3

Matrix (Body Preservation)

Back 3

- Natural material that surrounds the body
- Soil or sediment (Different effects)
- Copper in soil (preserve skin + organs)
- Chalk: preserving bones
- Acidic water/sediments destroy human remains in very short time (dark mark outlining shape)
- Acidic water/sediments poor oxygen can preserve
- Salt can ‘dry’ out remains

Front 4

Local and Regional Climate (Body Preservation)

Back 4

- ‘Local’ climates: Found in specific place e.g. inside cave
- 'Regional' Climates= normal weather patterns of an area

Dry = Egypt, Australia, Peru, parts of American south-west assist preservation
- Lack of water decreases multiplication of destructive micro-organisms
- Bodies retain hair/skin/nails
- Dessication of corpse
Cold = Russia, Greenland, Alaska – naturally refrigerate
- Incredibly low temps, slow decomp.
- Contact w ice and water OR
- Type of natural freeze-drying process
Waterlogged = lakes, marshes, swamps, peatbogs, fens
- Sealed in wet and anaerobic (airless) environment
- If site dries out – rapid decomposition

Front 5

Tropical Climates
Temperature Climatures

Back 5

Tropical
- Asia, Central/South America, Central Africa most destructive
- Heavy moisture, through rain, acidic soils, warm-to-high temps, erosion, effects of insect/plant life are against preservation.

Temperature
- Europe & North America – not helpful
- Decay sped up by fluctuations of temps and rainfall

Front 6

Cold Climates
Waterlogged Climates

Back 6

Cold:
- Russia, Greenland, Alaska – naturally refrigerate
- Incredibly low temps, slow decomp.
- Contact with ice and water OR a type of natural freeze-drying process.

Waterlogged:
- lakes, marshes, swamps, peatbog, fens
- Sealed in wet and anaerobic (airless) environment
- If site dries out – rapid decomposition

Front 7

Deliberate Preservation

Back 7

- Ancient societies had religious beliefs about afterlife, so preserving body was important to have existence after death
- Deliberately preserving = ‘mummification’

Front 8

Significance of Preservation

Back 8

- Age, sex, height and weight, state of health, family relationships, diet and nutrition, work practices
- Colour and style of persons’ hair, skin colour, wrinkles, scars, tattoos

Front 9

Trepanation

Back 9

Cutting out piece of bone from scull. Alleviate pressure on brain caused by fracture, prevent headaches, or even epilepsy.