How do archaeologists investigate and understand ancient sites and civilisations? Interpreting archaeological evidence accurately and methodically is the key to obtaining a critical perspective on the development of the human race. This album provides an introduction to archaeology and its methodologies for excavation of sites that can be more than 12000 years old. Like piecing together a jigsaw puzzle but without a picture guide, archaeologists can establish how cities and civilisations developed, why humans started farming, and how empires formed and collapsed. This material forms part of The Open University course A251 World archaeology.
Latest episodes
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World Archaeology
A short introduction to this album.
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Transcript -- World Archaeology
Transcript -- A short introduction to this album.
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The importance of archaeology
The discipline of archaeology and its methodology.
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Transcript -- The importance of archaeology
Transcript -- The discipline of archaeology and its methodology.
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Pompeii: reconstructing the urban past
The challenges of studying the cultural development of urban settlements, including Pompeii.
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Transcript -- Pompeii: reconstructing the urban past
Transcript -- The challenges of studying the cultural development of urban settlements, including Pompeii.
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The origins of agriculture
Why did humans start farming?
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Transcript -- The origins of agriculture
Transcript -- Why did humans start farming?
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Interpreting the remains of early cities
Archaeologists discuss early Meso-american and South Asian cities and how they reveal different forms of social organisation.
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Transcript -- Interpreting the remains of early cities
Transcript -- Archaeologists discuss early Meso-american and South Asian cities and how they reveal different forms of social organisation.
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The challenge of defining a city
What evidence do we need to define archaeological remains as a city?
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Transcript -- The challenge of defining a city
Transcript -- What evidence do we need to define archaeological remains as a city?
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Understanding empires
Archaeologists discuss the formation of empires and how to interpret archaeological evidence left by them.
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Transcript -- Understanding empires
Transcript -- Archaeologists discuss the formation of empires and how to interpret archaeological evidence left by them.
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Excavating empires
Exploring the development and function of empires, looking at Mayan, Aztec, Roman, and Chinese societies.
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Transcript -- Excavating empires
Transcript -- Exploring the development and function of empires, looking at Mayan, Aztec, Roman, and Chinese societies.
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Studying human development
Exploring how humans have developed by looking at the remains they have left.
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Transcript -- Studying human development
Transcript -- Exploring how humans have developed by looking at the remains they have left.