Classical archaeology is the archaeological investigation of the Mediterranean civilizations of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome.[1] Nineteenth-century archaeologists such as Heinrich Schliemann were drawn to study the societies they had read about in Latin and Greek texts. Many universities and foreign nations maintain excavation programs and schools in the area – such is the enduring appeal of the region's archaeology.
Classical archaeology in its strictest, most traditional sense applies only to the study of Classical Athenian culture and the culture of the Roman Republic and Empire. However, over the course of the last century, the field has expanded to include discussions of the elaborate mosaic of cultures that produced the civilizations of Ancient Greece and Rome. Classical archaeologists interested in Greece frequently discuss Crete and the Minoan civilization present on that island during the Bronze Age. They also discuss the Helladic and Geometric periods, as well as occasionally discussing the Neolithic period as it pertains to Greece. Even during the Classical period, it is completely untrue to say that Greece had one true culture – a great deal of regional variation was present, and much of the study of Greek archaeology lies in examination of these regional differences. Greek archaeology covers the Hellenistic period as well, frequently compelling the classical archaeologist to examine the Greek influences present in all the areas that were part of Alexander the Great's empire, including much of the Middle East and Egypt.
Classical archaeologists interested in Roman civilization discuss the influence of the Etruscans and other early cultures present on the Italic Peninsula. They also discuss the subcultures present within the Roman Republic and Empire based on regional differences, and any discussion of the later empire requires at least a partial segue into the Byzantine Empire.
Excavationsedit
While inspired by ancient texts and sometimes using them to interpret artifacts, classical archaeology would not exist without ancient artifacts. Though much of classical archaeology (like any kind of archaeology) is performed by scholars in their studies, the most vibrant and crucial parts of classical archaeology are the archaeological excavations, more commonly known as "digs". Excavation techniques at first were modelled after excavations in Egypt and the Near East and searched for large artifacts and walls without much care for the delicate remains that might have existed in the ground around these artifacts. Many of the earliest sites still cannot be dated in a satisfying manner because the stratigraphy, soil layers with embedded artifacts used to determine the age of a site, was completely stripped away. Early excavations also often failed to record the items they found in sufficient detail, making it difficult to date artifacts, determine precisely where they were found, or establish a connection between objects that may have been found together. Over time, excavation techniques have greatly improved and the amount of information gleaned from each excavation is exponentially greater than that recorded in early excavations. While excavation reports now take many years to compile due to the level of detail included and analyzed.
Alcock, Susan E., and Robin Osborne, eds. 2007. Classical archaeology. Oxford: Blackwell.
Beard, Mary, and John Henderson. 2001. Classical art: From Greece to Rome. Oxford History of Art. Oxford and New York: Oxford Univ. Press.
Davis, Jack L. (2001). "Classical Archaeology and Anthropological Archaeology in North America: A Meeting of Minds at the Millennium?". Archaeology at the Millennium. pp. 415–437. doi:10.1007/978-0-387-72611-3_12. ISBN978-0-387-72610-6.
Ellis, Linda, ed. 2000. Archaeological method and theory: An encyclopedia. New York: Garland.
Hodder, Ian, ed. 2001. Archaeological theory today. Cambridge, UK: Polity.
Laurence, Ray (2012). Roman Archaeology for Historians(PDF). doi:10.4324/9780203115480. ISBN9780203115480.
Morris, Ian (2006). "Classical Archaeology". A Companion to Archaeology. pp. 253–271. doi:10.1002/9780470998618.ch14. ISBN9780470998618.
Osborne, Robin (2004). "Greek Archaeology: A Survey of Recent Work". American Journal of Archaeology. 108: 87–102. doi:10.3764/aja.108.1.87. S2CID 147415690.
Pedley, John Griffiths. 2007. Greek art and archaeology. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
Woolf, Greg (2004). "The Present State and Future Scope of Roman Archaeology: A Comment". American Journal of Archaeology. 108 (3): 417–428. doi:10.3764/aja.108.3.417. S2CID 147643397.
The Beazley Archive is a collection of Classical artifacts
Classical Archaeology – A site with many links to classical archaeology sites
May 02, 2024
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Classical archaeology news newspapers books scholar JSTOR September 2017 Learn how and when to remove this message Classical archaeology is the archaeological investigation of the Mediterranean civilizations of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome 1 Nineteenth century archaeologists such as Heinrich Schliemann were drawn to study the societies they had read about in Latin and Greek texts Many universities and foreign nations maintain excavation programs and schools in the area such is the enduring appeal of the region s archaeology Contents 1 Cultures discussed 2 Excavations 3 See also 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksCultures discussed editClassical archaeology in its strictest most traditional sense applies only to the study of Classical Athenian culture and the culture of the Roman Republic and Empire However over the course of the last century the field has expanded to include discussions of the elaborate mosaic of cultures that produced the civilizations of Ancient Greece and Rome Classical archaeologists interested in Greece frequently discuss Crete and the Minoan civilization present on that island during the Bronze Age They also discuss the Helladic and Geometric periods as well as occasionally discussing the Neolithic period as it pertains to Greece Even during the Classical period it is completely untrue to say that Greece had one true culture a great deal of regional variation was present and much of the study of Greek archaeology lies in examination of these regional differences Greek archaeology covers the Hellenistic period as well frequently compelling the classical archaeologist to examine the Greek influences present in all the areas that were part of Alexander the Great s empire including much of the Middle East and Egypt Classical archaeologists interested in Roman civilization discuss the influence of the Etruscans and other early cultures present on the Italic Peninsula They also discuss the subcultures present within the Roman Republic and Empire based on regional differences and any discussion of the later empire requires at least a partial segue into the Byzantine Empire Excavations editWhile inspired by ancient texts and sometimes using them to interpret artifacts classical archaeology would not exist without ancient artifacts Though much of classical archaeology like any kind of archaeology is performed by scholars in their studies the most vibrant and crucial parts of classical archaeology are the archaeological excavations more commonly known as digs Excavation techniques at first were modelled after excavations in Egypt and the Near East and searched for large artifacts and walls without much care for the delicate remains that might have existed in the ground around these artifacts Many of the earliest sites still cannot be dated in a satisfying manner because the stratigraphy soil layers with embedded artifacts used to determine the age of a site was completely stripped away Early excavations also often failed to record the items they found in sufficient detail making it difficult to date artifacts determine precisely where they were found or establish a connection between objects that may have been found together Over time excavation techniques have greatly improved and the amount of information gleaned from each excavation is exponentially greater than that recorded in early excavations While excavation reports now take many years to compile due to the level of detail included and analyzed See also editFriends of Herculaneum SocietyReferences edit The Beazley Archive Beazley ox ac uk Further reading editAlcock Susan E and Robin Osborne eds 2007 Classical archaeology Oxford Blackwell Beard Mary and John Henderson 2001 Classical art From Greece to Rome Oxford History of Art Oxford and New York Oxford Univ Press Davis Jack L 2001 Classical Archaeology and Anthropological Archaeology in North America A Meeting of Minds at the Millennium Archaeology at the Millennium pp 415 437 doi 10 1007 978 0 387 72611 3 12 ISBN 978 0 387 72610 6 Ellis Linda ed 2000 Archaeological method and theory An encyclopedia New York Garland Hodder Ian ed 2001 Archaeological theory today Cambridge UK Polity Laurence Ray 2012 Roman Archaeology for Historians PDF doi 10 4324 9780203115480 ISBN 9780203115480 Morris Ian 2006 Classical Archaeology A Companion to Archaeology pp 253 271 doi 10 1002 9780470998618 ch14 ISBN 9780470998618 Osborne Robin 2004 Greek Archaeology A Survey of Recent Work American Journal of Archaeology 108 87 102 doi 10 3764 aja 108 1 87 S2CID 147415690 Pedley John Griffiths 2007 Greek art and archaeology 4th ed Upper Saddle River NJ Pearson Education Woolf Greg 2004 The Present State and Future Scope of Roman Archaeology A Comment American Journal of Archaeology 108 3 417 428 doi 10 3764 aja 108 3 417 S2CID 147643397 External links editLibrary resources about Classical archaeology Online books Resources in your library Resources in other libraries The Beazley Archive is a collection of Classical artifacts Classical Archaeology A site with many links to classical archaeology sites Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Classical archaeology amp oldid 1150765119, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
