Archaeology

Archaeology. . , Most of what we know about the Arlington Site has been learned through archaeology. Archaeology is the study of past human activity through the examination of material culture, which means things modified or used by people. This is often the only way we can learn about prehistoric peoples who did not leave any written records behind, and it is also very important for understanding history since written records are not always reliable, and not everyone was literate., Excavations took place at Arlington in 1987, 1988, and 1994, following the discovery of archaeological sites in an area proposed for development. These excavations and further research were conducted by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, the Virginia Company, the William and Mary Center for Archaeological Research, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, and the James River Institute for Archaeology., Much of our understanding of how Arlington would have looked is based on the intact foundation uncovered by archaeologists. The dimensions of the foundation and the materials that were used informed what the second and third floors likely resembled., Other features uncovered during excavations included a slot trench dating to the 17th century, a tunnel-lined well, an earthfast building, possible planting beds, and more., [Sidebars:] , Archaeologists rely on artifacts, which are objects made or used by people, to learn about the past. The artifacts found are usually things people lost or discarded including items such as broken ceramics, glassware, nails, animal bones from meals, and items used for personal ornamentation. Some examples of artifacts from the Arlington site (shown starting in the upper left and moving clockwise) include ceramics, shell, glass fragment; a glass bottle with a Custis Seal, Rhenish stoneware, and finely-decorated masonry., The drawing to the left shows the foundation of the Arlington mansion and associated features as archaeologists documented them during excavations., Archaeologists also learn about the past by studying features. A feature is evidence of human activity that cannot be moved from a site, which is different from an artifact. Some examples of features include post holes, storage pits, fire hearths, and house floors. Some of these features stains, where the soil is darker, are visible in the photo to the right., An example of how a pit feature is formed and later excavated., What can you learn from studying your own trash?