NPS Archeology Program: Archeology for Interpreters

What difference does it make if the artifacts get moved?

Archeological Context

Archeological context refers to the arrangement or position of archeological data within the soil matrix, and associations with other artifacts and ecofacts. Archeological context provides important clues regarding past human behaviors. When a park visitor removes an artifact from a site, that artifact loses its value because it has been removed from its context. Context-or provenience-is the most important aspect of an artifact. It allows the archeologist to study the artifact in relation to its stratigraphy, natural environment, cultural environment, and surrounding artifacts.

CASE STUDY

Archeology at the Battle of the Little Bighorn-Methods

This web site describes how important artifact provenience was when archeologists recovered evidence for the movement of individual firearms over the battlefield, verified cavalry positions, and defined previously unknown Indian fighting areas. (4/30/01)

(photo)

Emancipation Day Parade, Richmond, Virginia, on April 3, 1905, marking the fall of Richmond. This is very close to the site of Maggie L. Walker National Historical Site. (NPS)

Social Context

Every objects exist in many relative dimensions at once. Around it is a rich network of associations and contrasts that can be followed through to interpret its meaning. An artifact's social context encompasses interpretations of its technical production and use, its values to the people who made and used it, and perhaps how and if the object symbolized their ideology. If an artifact's archeological context is lost, its social context is also lost unless otherwise recorded.

CASE STUDY

Archeology at Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site

This web site illustrates how archeology revealed personal esthetics and daily practices of turn-of-the-century African American tenants of Richmond, Virginia's Jackson Ward. Highly recommended. (4/30/01)

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