Artifact (archaeology)

An artifact, in archaeology, is any object made or modified by a human being. These objects provide crucial insights into past cultures, technologies, and behaviors. The creation, use, and deposition of artifacts are central to archaeological interpretation.

Definition and Scope:

Artifacts are distinct from other forms of archaeological evidence, such as ecofacts (natural objects used by humans, like seeds or bones) and features (non-portable elements such as hearths or buildings). While ecofacts provide information about diet and environment, and features reveal settlement patterns and architectural techniques, artifacts often provide the most direct evidence of human activities and intentions.

The category of "artifact" is extremely broad, encompassing a vast range of materials and forms. Common examples include:

• Tools: Stone tools (arrowheads, axes, scrapers), bone tools (needles, awls), metal tools (knives, axes, ploughs).
• Ceramics: Pottery shards, vessels, figurines.
• Ornaments: Beads, pendants, bracelets, rings.
• Weapons: Swords, spears, arrowheads.
• Art: Sculptures, paintings, engravings.
• Clothing: Fragments of textiles, buttons, buckles.
• Personal Items: Combs, mirrors, writing implements.

Significance in Archaeological Interpretation:

Artifacts are analyzed using a variety of techniques to understand their context, function, and significance. These analyses may include:

• Typological analysis: Classifying artifacts based on their form and attributes to understand their evolution and distribution over time and space.
• Technological analysis: Examining the methods used to manufacture artifacts to understand the skills and knowledge of past artisans.
• Use-wear analysis: Studying microscopic wear patterns on artifacts to determine how they were used.
• Residue analysis: Identifying organic residues on artifacts to understand their contents or functions.
• Contextual analysis: Analyzing the spatial relationships between artifacts and other archaeological materials to understand their depositional context and association with specific activities.

The analysis of artifacts contributes to the reconstruction of past lifeways, social structures, economic systems, and belief systems. The spatial distribution of artifact types can illuminate trade routes and cultural boundaries. The changes in artifact forms over time can reveal technological innovations and cultural shifts.

Ethical Considerations:

The excavation, study, and display of artifacts raise significant ethical considerations. It is crucial to respect the cultural heritage of descendant communities and to ensure that artifacts are properly documented, conserved, and made accessible to the public. Repatriation efforts seek to return culturally significant artifacts to their original communities. The illicit trade in antiquities can lead to the destruction of archaeological sites and the loss of invaluable cultural heritage.

Relationship to Other Archaeological Concepts:

Artifacts are integral to understanding site formation processes, which describe how sites are created and transformed over time. They are also essential for establishing the chronology of archaeological sites through methods such as stratigraphy and radiocarbon dating. The study of artifacts is inextricably linked to broader theoretical frameworks in archaeology, such as cultural resource management and the investigation of past human behavior.