ARTIFACTS.pptx
- 1. IMPORTANCE OF ARTIFACTS IN INTERPRETING SOCIAL ,CULTURAL, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC PROCESSES
- 2. • Objective • At the end of this lesson, you are expected to be able to explore the significance of human material remains and artifactual evidence in interpreting cultural, social, political, and economic processes. • In your home, you have probably seen objects belonging to your great-great grandparents that were kept by your parents or other relatives. Like artifacts, these objects help in describing or creating a picture of the past. • What implications do these objects have at present • What do they tell about the past? • What role do artifactual pieces of evidence play in understanding early societies?
- 3. • Artifacts • Archaeologists have discovered artifactual pieces of evidences even dating back to the beginning of human evolution. As a result, present-day social and biological scientists are able to open a window to what life was in the past. In this lesson, the significance and value of artifacts in several aspects will be described and discussed. • Artifacts are objects made or modified by humans in the past. They are recovered after a long time through archaeological endeavor or by chance. Apart from serving as windows to the past, artifacts are also deemed significant because they are tangible or authentic proof that a certain period in history actually occurred.
- 4. • The Significance of Artifacts • Artifacts have significant contributions in interpreting social, cultural, political, and economic processes that occurred in the past. Their existence proves and describes these aspects thoroughly. The discovery of artifacts and the understanding of various processes have provided a stable foundation for the socioeconomic, political, and cultural growth that humans have come to recognize today.
- 6. • Importance of Artifact Preservation • There are various reasons why artifacts must be preserved and taken care of. Below are some of them. • Artifacts are irreplaceable. Artifacts, being made hundreds, even thousands of years ago, are very delicate objects that cannot be replaced by any available material in the present time. • Artifacts are keys to understanding the past. Practices that occurred in the past would not have been known if not for the discovery of artifacts. • Artifacts give people a sense of identity. Artifacts greatly describe culture and society. They provide people with an opportunity to further understand their identities and heritage, as well as some collective qualities that their culture may have. • The past is yet to be fully discovered. Despite the seemingly great successes archaeologists have made in recent years, there is still more to discover about history. Treating artifacts like pieces of puzzles will eventually provide a general picture of the past.
- 7. • Present-day “Artifacts” for the Future • Many advances have already been made and discovered within this century. It is logical to treat these discoveries as significant elements that can help shape the future. As such, the technologies and developments that the world has today must also be well-preserved. These must be treated with certainty that one day, these “artifacts” will be discovered and be understood by future generations
- 8. • Explore! • Archaeologists hunt for artifacts for a period of months, some even extending up to several years. They proceed with their digs with caution to eliminate the risk of damaging any artifact they may find. If you were to place yourself in an archaeologist’s shoes, would you be willing to sacrifice so much time and effort to know about the past? Why? Why not?
- 9. • Tips • Artifacts may consist of any tangible object that was originally part of the distant past but was recently discovered. They may include bones, fossils, tools, and a lot more. • Archaeologists are responsible for digging out artifacts. Anthropologists study an area’s culture. Together, they work to create a holistic picture and identity of a certain group. • Key Points • Artifacts are objects made or modified by humans in the past. They are recovered after a long time through archaeological endeavor or by chance. • Artifacts have implications in the understanding of social, cultural, economic, and political processes. • It is important to preserve artifacts because they are irreplaceable, help understand the past, and give people a sense of identity. • Present-day discoveries and technologies will one day be artifacts for the future generation.