Landscape archaeology explores how societies shape the land around them. A culture may alter its landscape for a variety of reasons, including economics, religion and survival. Choose an ancient civilization and describe any current knowledge about it obtained from the perspective of landscape archaeology. Alternatively, choose an aspect about landscape archaeology, such as the way people change landscapes for religious purposes, and provide multiple examples of that practice from different ancient civilizations.
The field of molecular bioarchaeology expands as scientific developments in DNA technology and analysis continue to grow. In past decades, archaeological discoveries depended solely on evidence that could be seen with the naked eye. Increased knowledge about DNA extraction and the evaluation of stable isotopes and lipids allow archaeologists to make further genetic and environmental discoveries about past generations. Explore the difference this has made to the overall field of archeology, comparing past limitations with contemporary opportunities.
Scientific dating allows archaeologists to build a timeline of human history and create connections between civilizations and the geographic regions those civilizations existed in. Several methods of scientific dating exist, including tephrochronology, dendrochronology, luminescence and radio-carbon. Give a broad overview of these different practices, comparing and contrasting them, or choose one method and explore the application of it in detail. Also consider exploring the rate of accuracy of scientific dating, controversies surrounding dating and the way in which scientific dating changed from decades past.
The manner in which archaeologists approach their field changes as the values of contemporary society change. Methods and theories develop around the interests of society. For example, greater interest in gender differences, ecological matters and individual identity exists among archaeological theories than it did in the field prior to the 1960s. Exploring archaeology from these perspectives can provide new insights to past civilizations, but doing so may also skew conclusions and ideas about a given culture. Discuss the pros and cons of archaeological theories or describe how these theories and methods change with the times.
Much of traditional archaeological research has its roots in terrestrial societies, but as archaeologists began realizing this bias, archaeological research concerning ancient maritime societies increased. Compare and contrast how archaeologists approach the study of maritime civilizations with how they approach the study of terrestrial peoples. Pay special attention to the necessary precautions archaeologists must take in order to preserve submerged sites and the problems they face due to the practice of treasure hunting.