Context

Definition

In archaeology, context refers to the relationship between an artifact, feature, or ecofact and its surrounding environment, including the physical and temporal aspects. Understanding context is essential for interpreting the significance of findings, as it provides insights into how people interacted with their surroundings and the meaning behind their behaviors.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Context includes both the spatial and temporal relationships of artifacts, meaning that it's important to know where something was found and when it was used.
2. Artifacts without context can lose their significance and meaning, making it harder for archaeologists to interpret the past accurately.
3. Different excavation techniques can affect how context is preserved; careful stratigraphic excavation helps maintain the original context of artifacts.
4. The concept of context also applies to features, which are non-portable remnants of human activity, like walls or hearths, providing critical information about past behaviors.
5. Understanding context allows archaeologists to create narratives about past cultures, helping them reconstruct social structures, trade relationships, and daily life.

Review Questions

• How does understanding context enhance the interpretation of archaeological findings?
  • Understanding context is crucial because it connects artifacts to their environment, revealing how they were used and what they signify within a culture. When archaeologists analyze both the spatial and temporal aspects of an artifact's recovery, they can uncover patterns of human behavior and interaction with their surroundings. This insight allows for a more comprehensive understanding of past societies and their complexities.
• Discuss the role of stratigraphy in preserving context during excavation and how it impacts archaeological interpretation.
  • Stratigraphy plays a vital role in preserving context during excavation by allowing archaeologists to identify distinct layers of soil or sediment that represent different time periods or events. By documenting these layers meticulously, researchers can establish a chronological framework that aids in dating artifacts and understanding their relationships. This careful approach to excavation helps maintain the integrity of context, leading to more accurate interpretations of archaeological sites.
• Evaluate the implications of losing context when excavating artifacts and its impact on our understanding of ancient cultures.
  • Losing context during excavation can have severe implications for our understanding of ancient cultures. Without proper contextual information, artifacts may be misinterpreted or stripped of their significance, leading to inaccurate conclusions about a society's practices, beliefs, or technologies. This can create gaps in our historical narrative and hinder efforts to reconstruct past life ways. Thus, preserving context is essential for ensuring that archaeological research accurately reflects the complexities of human history.

Related terms

Provenience: The exact location from which an artifact is recovered, often documented in three dimensions to provide precise spatial context.

Stratigraphy:

The study of rock layers and layering (strata), used in archaeology to establish a sequence of events and understand the relative dating of artifacts.

Matrix: The physical material surrounding an artifact, such as soil or sediment, which can help determine its preservation and relationship to other findings.