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The Wide World of Archaeology

Than Homerski (they/them)

MA Public Issues Anthropology

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What is Archaeology?

  • Treasure hunting?
  • A science!

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What is Archaeology?

The study of humanity’s past, present, and future through material culture.

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When do we study?

  • Only the tiniest sliver of Earth’s history
  • Some study back a few millions years
  • Most study the last 12 thousand!

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What do we study?

  • Human biology!
  • Buildings!

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What do we study?

  • Human biology!
  • Buildings!
  • Objects!
  • Animals!

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What do we study?

  • Human biology!
  • Buildings!
  • Objects!
  • Animals!
  • Crops!
  • Land!
  • Anything that we have influenced

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Why is Archaeology important?

  • Teaches us about the past
  • Informs the present
  • Leaving messages for the future
  • Reconciliation

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What challenges do we face?

  • Archaeology is destructive!
  • How do we know where to look?
  • Working in harsh climates or inaccessible locations
  • How do we preserve what we find?
  • How can we build infrastructure without removing history?
  • Is there new technology that we could be using?

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Technology in Archaeology

  • LIDAR seeing through the Amazonian canopy to find lost cities

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Technology in Archaeology

  • CT scanning mummies to understand who they were without destroying them

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Technology in Archaeology

  • 3D scanning to create VR or AR experiences

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Technology in Archaeology

  • Sonar and UAVs to map shipwrecks in the Great Lakes

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Ask an Archaeologist!

  • Events
    • Western University
    • University of Waterloo
    • McMaster University
  • Reach out!
  • Fill out the form at this QR code:

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Acknowledgements

  • FIRST Robotics Canada
  • Bayview Glen Independent School
  • The Ontario Archaeological Society
  • You!

All images are property of their respective owners and used under the Copyright Act for this educational presentation. Please contact myself at stem.archaeology@gmail.com for details about image rights or to request your image be removed from this slide deck.