 |
|
|
Home | Search | Site Index | Site Map | Directories | |
|
|||
 |
Nick Kardulias is an expert in the archaeology and ethnography of the Mediterranean region, the archaeology of North America, political anthropology, world systems theory, ancient trade systems, and analysis of stone tools. An associate professor of anthropology and archaeology at The College of Wooster since 1996, Kardulias received his bachelor's degree as well as his master's degree from Youngstown State University. He also has a master's degree from The State University of New York at Binghamton. His doctoral work in anthropology was done at The Ohio State University. Kardulias is the editor of three books: Beyond the Site: Regional Studies in the Aegean Area; Aegean Strategies: Studies of Culture and Environment on the European Fringe; and World-Systems Theory in Practice: Leadership, Production, and Exchange. In the past three years, he has received grants from the United States Department of Education and the National Science Foundation. Currently, he serves as field coordinator of The Ohio State University excavations at Isthmia in Greece, associate director of the Athienou Archaeological Project in Cyprus, and director of the Kokosing River Basin Archaeological Survey. A member of several professional organizations, Kardulias is on the executive board of the Central States Anthropological Society. He is also president of the Oberlin-Wooster Chapter of the Archeological Institute of America. |
Many clues about the lives of our ancestors are buried deep below the surface. Nick Kardulias, associate professor of anthropology and archaeology at The College of Wooster, has dedicated his professional life to exploring the connection between past and present through various dig sites, particularly in the Mediterranean, and he shares some of the fundamental aspects of his work in this column. What is the purpose of an archaeological dig? Many questions about various civilizations can be answered through archeological excavation. What we try to do is pose questions about such items as the population, politics, economics, and religion of a particular region before we begin work at the site. Then, different archaeological models enable us to interpret what has been discovered. Through our study, we can draw certain conclusions about the way people governed, the way they conducted business, and even the way they worshipped. How are dig sites determined? This can be done at several levels. Many sites are well established. For example, the one I have worked at in Greece has been known for the past 2,500 years. Other sites are discovered, sometimes by accident. For instance, a construction company may stumble upon a site while digging a foundation for a new building. A more scientific method is an archaeological survey, which involves the systematic investigation of a region. This may include aerial photography and satellite imagery as a prelude to walking the fields and recording any evidence of past human occupation. Fieldwork requires a specific approach to a particular region. What do archeologists do when they arrive at a site? Many people have probably seen photographs of sites that are sectioned off for a precise study of the area. Specific sampling strategies are developed to identify things on the ground through detailed observation. What we try to do is develop a model of how humans used the land and for what purpose. In Cyprus, for example, we studied an ancient and medieval settlement with a religious sanctuary. Our objective was to determine how people in the valley utilized the land and the religious facility. sanctuary facility over time. How difficult is it to find artifacts? Artifacts are particularly easy to find in the Mediterranean, but discovery is only the beginning of the process. The bigger question is, "What does that artifact mean?" In order to answer the question, one must have an understanding of the history and culture of the people from that region. The older the item, especially if it is prior to 10,000 years ago, the more difficult it is to identify without a trained eye. What do you find at these sites? It depends on the specific site, but one might expect to find everything from the ordinary things that people used in their daily lives to important items such as religious icons, statues, or stones with inscriptions. Personally, I am most interested in stone tools, which were part of the domestic economy and were used in a variety of agricultural activities, such as hoeing the ground, and reaping, threshing and milling various grains. What might an archaeological dig in Ohio reveal? For one thing, we might dispel the notion that history began when the white settlers arrived. Ohio's history of human habitation dates back some 11,000 years as revealed by archeological work. There are a number of rich archeological sites in Ohio, and one of the things we have learned is that people in the state were living on the edge of a glacier at one time. If we were to survey areas of Millersburg, for example, we might learn more about the great mastodon extinction that took place many years ago. Overall, we would gain an appreciation for what people had to endure, particularly how they adapted to the very harsh weather conditions of the time. What is the ultimate objective of the archaeologist? In the process of reconstructing artifacts, we are trying to put the big picture in perspective and determine what was happening in that location at the time. This requires a theoretical approach in which we apply principles of evolution to our understanding of how societies developed over time. Using World Systems Theory, I make an effort to understand the dynamics of ancient societies. My approach is based on an understanding of humans in their environment and how they adapt to changes over time. This helps us to draw conclusions about the people and their lifestyles at various times. |
 |
 |
 |
| Last updated: January 10, 2006 · For more information, contact John Finn | ||
