Learning Objectives

After reading this chapter, you should be able to:

2.1 Explain how archaeological research is used to answer questions about past societies.
2.2 Define paleoanthropology and discuss what we can learn about the past from fossil evidence.
2.3 Discuss what the archaeological record can tell us about past societies.
2.4 Recall the basic techniques used to locate archaeological sites and fossil localities.
2.5 Summarize the basic techniques of archaeological excavation.
2.6 Compare and contrast how archaeologists and paleoanthropologists date their discoveries.
2.7 Discuss the challenges of interpreting the past and how these are overcome.