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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mycenaean stirrup jar from Ras Shamra (Ugarit) Syria, 1400–1300 BC

An artifact[a] or artefact (British English) is a general term for an item made or given shape by humans,
such as a tool or a work of art, especially an object of archaeological interest.[1] In archaeology, the word
has become a term of particular nuance; it is defined as an object recovered by archaeological endeavor,
including cultural artifacts (of cultural interest).

"Artifact" is the general term used in archaeology, while in museums the equivalent general term is
normally "object", and in art history perhaps artwork or a more specific term such as "carving". The
same item may be called all or any of these in different contexts, and more specific terms will be used
when talking about individual objects, or groups of similar ones.

Artifacts exist in many different forms and can sometimes be confused with ecofacts and features; all
three of these can sometimes be found together at archaeological sites. They can also exist in different
types of context depending on the processes that have acted on them over time. A wide variety of
analyses take place to analyze artifacts and provide information on them. However, the process of
analyzing artifacts through scientific archaeology can be hindered by the looting and collecting of
artifacts, which sparks ethical debate.

A 2nd century AD Sarmatian-Parthian gold necklace and amulet from the Black Sea region.

History

From the emergence of the Hominids in the Stone Age, humanity has developed a handful of artifacts
through time and place. There are archaeological sites and museums that obtain artifacts for physical
evidence through past traces of civilizations, as well as norms and rituals, where objects attested a part
of material culture.

Context

Artifacts can come from any archaeological context or source such as:

Buried along with a body

From any feature such as a midden or other domestic setting

Votive offerings

Hoards, such as in wells

Examples include stone tools, pottery vessels, metal objects such as weapons and items of personal
adornment such as buttons, jewelry and clothing. Bones that show signs of human modification are also
examples. Natural objects, such as fire cracked rocks from a hearth or plant material used for food, are
classified by archaeologists as ecofacts rather than as artifacts.

A Crusading Period spoon from 1017 that was found on archaeological excavation of Tursiannotko in
Pirkkala, Finland.

Artifacts exist as a result of behavioral and transformational processes. A behavioral process involves
acquiring raw materials, manufacturing these for a specific purpose and then discarding after use.
Transformational processes begin at the end of behavioral processes; this is when the artifact is changed
by nature and/or humans after it has been deposited. Both of these processes are significant factors in
evaluating the context of an artifact.[2]

The context of an artifact can be broken into two categories: primary context and secondary context. A
matrix is a physical setting within which an artifact exists, and a provenience refers to a specific location
within a matrix. When an artifact is found in the realm of primary context, the matrix and provenience
have not been changed by transformational processes. However, the matrix and provenience are
changed by transformational processes when referring to secondary context. Artifacts exist in both
contexts, and this is taken into account during the analysis of them.[2] Another important type of
context for archeologists, particularly from an art history perspective, is the term provenance, or the
more general history of an artifact's ownership, location, and importance.

Artifacts are distinguished from stratigraphic features and ecofacts. Stratigraphic features are non-
portable remains of human activity that include hearths, roads, deposits, trenches and similar remains.
Ecofacts, also referred to as biofacts, are objects of archaeological interest made by other organisms,
such as seeds or animal bone.[2]

Natural objects that humans have moved but not changed are called manuports. Examples include
seashells moved inland or rounded pebbles placed away from the water action that made them.

Curmsun Disc - Obverse, Jomsborg, 980s, Burial site of king Harald Bluetooth

These distinctions are often blurred; a bone removed from an animal carcass is a biofact but a bone
carved into a useful implement is an artifact. Similarly there can be debate over early stone objects that
could be either crude artifact or naturally occurring and happen to resemble early objects made by early
humans or Homo sapiens. It can be difficult to distinguish the differences between actual human-made
lithic artifact and geofacts – naturally occurring lithics that resemble human-made tools. It is possible to
authenticate artifacts by examining the general characteristics attributed to human-made tools and local
characteristics of the site.[3]

Artifacts, features and ecofacts can all be located together at sites. Sites may include different
arrangements of the three; some might include all of them while others might only include one or two.
Sites can have clear boundaries in the form of walls and moats, but this is not always the case. Sites can
be distinguished through categories, such as location and past functions. How artifacts exist at these
sites can provide archaeological insight. An example of this would be utilizing the position and depth of
buried artifacts to determine a chronological timeline for past occurrences at the site.[2]

Modern archaeologists take care to distinguish material culture from ethnicity, which is often more
complex, as expressed by Carol Kramer in the dictum "pots are not people."[4]

Analysis

Artifact analysis is determined by what type of artifact is being examined, the best.

Lithic analysis refers to analyzing artifacts that are created with stones and are often in the form of tools.
Stone artifacts occur often throughout prehistoric times and are, therefore, a crucial aspect in answering
archaeological questions about the past. On the surface, lithic artifacts can help archaeologists study
how technology has developed throughout history by showing a variety of tools and manufacturing
techniques from different periods of time. However, even deeper questions can be answered through
this type of analysis; these questions can revolve around topics that include how societies were
organized and structured in terms of socialization and the distribution of goods. The following lab
techniques all contribute to the process of lithic analysis: petrographic analysis, neutron activation, x-ray
fluorescence, particle-induced x-ray emission, individual flake analysis and mass analysis.[5]

Another type of artifact analysis is ceramic analysis, which is based around the archaeological study of
pottery. This type of analysis can help archaeologists gain information on the raw materials that were
used and how they were utilized in the creation of pottery. Laboratory techniques that allow for this are
mainly based around spectroscopy. The different types of spectroscopy used include atomic absorption,
electrothermal atomic absorption, inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission and x-ray fluorescence.
Ceramic analysis does more than just provide information on raw materials and pottery production; it
helps provide insight to past societies in terms of their technology, economy and social structure.[6][7]

Additionally, faunal analysis exists to study artifacts in the form of animal remains. Just as with lithic
artifacts, faunal remains are extremely common within the field of archaeology. Faunal analysis provides
insight to trade due to animals being exchanged in different markets over time and being traded over
long distances. Faunal remains can also provide information on social status, ethnic distinctions and
dieting from previous complex societies.[8]
Dating artifacts and providing them with a chronological timeline is a crucial part of artifact analysis. The
different types of analyses above can all assist in the process of artifact dating. The major types of dating
include relative dating, historical dating and typology. Relative dating occurs when artifacts are placed in
a specific order in relation to one another while historical dating occurs for periods of written evidence;
relative dating was the only form of dating for prehistoric periods of time. Typology is the process that
groups together artifacts that are similar in material and shape. This strategy is based around the ideas
that styles of objects match certain time periods and that these styles change slowly over time.[9]
#1
The Oseberg Ship (Year 820)
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The Oseberg ship is an ornate Viking vessel made of oak that could be sailed or rowed. It was
constructed in Norway around 820 AD and was discovered in 1904 in a large burial mound at the
Oseberg farm near tønsberg. It is one of the most beautiful and well-preserved Viking artifacts ever
found.
Petter UllelandReport

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DennyS (denzoren) 2 years ago javascript:void(0)
Oh wow....this would be amazing to see in person.
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Exploring artifacts that date thousands of years and learning about them feeds our natural curiosity
but it is even more interesting to chat with people who are experts in the field.

That is why Bored Panda reached out to Dr. Brian L. Hackett, an associate professor at Northern
Kentucky University who has a special interest in museum exhibits and from 1992 to 2004 was
responsible for the day-to-day management and development of historic sites as executive director of
the Montgomery County (Ohio) Historical Society.

RELATED:

#2
Terracotta Army (246 BC – 209 BC)
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Unlike other historical artifacts, this funerary gift cannot be slipped into a sarcophagus or placed in the
corner of a tomb — it consists of over 8000 statues of soldiers, statesmen, horses, and carriages.
These clay soldiers were life-size and highly realistic, even holding functional weapons until curators
replaced them for safety and preservation. Although only ten different facial models were used, each
soldier appears to be unique.
David StanleyReport

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Nathaniel 2 years ago javascript:void(0)

There is still so much more of this tomb still to unearth.

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#3
Book Of Kells (9th Century)
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This four-volume Gospel book from the ninth century is Ireland's most famous medieval European
manuscript, thanks to its rich decorative illuminations and masterful calligraphy. Its pages are filled
with beautiful illustrations of people, animals, mythical beasts, and Celtic knots.
ajay_sureshReport

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Elizabeth Elliot 2 years ago javascript:void(0)

The animated film "the Secret of Kells' is really good.

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Scientists discover artifacts and share the joy of finding something new that uncovers a part in human
history because they were once lost and are now the only link to a certain time and place. It always is
a wonder how entire cities can be lost and we just built new ones on top just to dig up everything once
again to find ruins or someone’s shoe.
Dr. Brian L. Hackett gave us an idea how such artifacts get lost, “Sometimes they are lost just like if
you were to lose your cell phone or your house keys. Other times, people deliberately hide things then
forget about them or pass away before the items are recovered. There is a time in the life of an artifact
where it goes from cherished and useful, to outdated and worthless, that is when objects get lost or
discarded.”

#4
Bust Of Queen Nefertiti (1345 BC)
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The Nefertiti Bust is a sculpture of the ancient Egyptian Queen Nefertiti, the wife of Pharaoh
Akhenaten, who ruled in the 14th century BC. It is easily one of the most recognizable ancient world
artifacts. The artifact is shrouded in mystery, controversy, and celebrity. Some believe she was a
foreign queen, while others believe she ruled as Pharaoh after her husband passed away or that they
ruled together.
Giovanni PracucciReport

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Alexia 2 years ago javascript:void(0)

This amazing artifact belongs to the Egyptian people, and it should be returned to them.
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#5
Rosetta Stone (196 BC)
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During Napoleon's Egypt campaign in the early 1700s, a group of French soldiers discovered a large,
inscribed stone slab at Rosetta. Egyptologists quickly got to work on understanding the inscriptions.
The slab and its accompanying text, which originally belonged to a temple, can be traced back to
Ptolemy V's reign. The Rosetta Stone's discovery was most notable for its potential for reading Ancient
Egyptian hieroglyphs.
Hans HillewaertReport

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Jrog 2 years ago javascript:void(0)

Fun fact, the Rosetta Stone is just one of the -possibly many- copies of the stone that existed at the time, but as of know the
only exemplary known of that specific text. It's named "Rosetta" after the anglicization of the name of the city where it was
discovered, Rashid: the stone was preserved only because it was reused as construction material for the ancient city walls. The
text is a royal decree, and it was supposed to be posted in many major temples and cities to let people know about the latest
political news (in this case, the Memphis priests accepting king Ptolemy V as the legitimate Pharaoh).
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#6
Mask Of Tutankhamun (1323 BC)
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Possibly the most famous ancient artifact from the Egyptian world, the funeral mask of King
Tutankhamun is a stunning fragment of both history and art. While the burial site was discovered in
1922, it took three more years to open the sarcophagus of the young ruler and transport it to the
museum. The sculptor also used different materials when producing the piece, ranging from lapis lazuli
to amazonite.
Roland UngerReport

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DennyS (denzoren) 2 years ago javascript:void(0)

The craftsmanship alone leaves me in awe.

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But to us those things hold huge value as they tell us the story of how our ancestors lived, what their
values were and what a long way we went from there. There were lots of important discoveries made
such as finding Tutankhamun’s burial site, the Dead Sea Scrolls or the Terracotta Army that had huge
cultural and historical meaning but that doesn’t mean that it’s the end.
Just as we know that only 5 percent of the ocean’s floor is explored, Dr. Hackett is convinced that
humans barely touched the surface of the evidence left behind by our predecessors and adds that you
don’t need to go to a historical sight to uncover something, “Incredible discoveries are always being
made not just in tombs, forgotten caves and deep forests, but also in attics, basements and even
museum collections. Lost artifacts are all around us, you just need to be aware of the possibilities!”

#7
Aztec Sun Stone (15th Century AD)
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The Aztec Sun Stone, also known as the Aztec calendar, is a 24-ton sculpture carved in the 15th
century to honor the Sun god Tonatiuh. It is now housed at Mexico's National Museum of Anthropology
and has appeared on a lot of modern products. The five successive Suns from Aztec mythology are
depicted on the Aztec Sun Stone.
Juan Carlos Fonseca MataReport

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DennyS (denzoren) 2 years ago javascript:void(0)

Glad to know it's in Mexico's museum...not someone else.

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#8
Lucy, Addis Ababa (Lived 3.2 Million Years Ago)
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Nothing says old like a three million-year-old artifact. Happily named Lucy, she supports evolutionary
theory and significantly contributes to our understanding of human origins. Lucy's skull and bone
fragments represent 40% of a female hominid who lived 3.2 million years ago. Lucy set the
stereotypes of women from three million years ago.
Ji-ElleReport

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DennyS (denzoren) 2 years ago javascript:void(0)

Lucy, we learned so much about her at uni. When we went on field trips to the forest to collect biological samples we'd joke
and say we're gonna look for Lucy. Lol
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#9
Antikythera Mechanism (205 BC – 100 BC)
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The Antikythera Mechanism is an enigmatic artifact. Archaeologists only realized the significance of
the artifact two years after its discovery. Based on the ancient Egyptian calendar and the familiar
zodiac system, the mechanism consists of multiple gears that, when rotated, reveal specific details
about the date and the positions of the Sun and Moon.
MarsyasReport

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DennyS (denzoren) 2 years ago javascript:void(0)

It always amazes me how people made these things and how they mapped and followed the position of the Sun and Moon. It
must have been so amazing to see them do this.
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Also, many of those great discoveries are accidents and while sometimes historians and archeologists
have something on their mind of what they want to find and can look for clues, “many discoveries are
by chance. You might be looking for one thing and end up finding something unexpected. It's times
like this that make the work exciting.”
In that case any of us can be discoverers and researchers playing Indiana Jones. Dr. Hackett actually
encourages it, “The stuff of history is all around us, one just needs to look. The Holy Grail can be found
anywhere. Just be open to the idea that things are meant to be discovered and the best is yet to
come.”

#10
Sutton Hoo, England (6th - 7th Centuries AD)
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Sutton Hoo, in the east of England, is the location of several early medieval cemeteries, including an
Anglo-Saxon ship burial, one of the most remarkable archaeological finds ever discovered in the United
Kingdom. Archeologist Basil Brown discovered the remains of an 86-foot-long (27 m) ship loaded with
treasures inside the mound and the skeleton of a long-dead Anglo-Saxon leader.
Ziko-CReport

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ispeak catanese 2 years ago javascript:void(0)

Watch The Dig, on Netflix. Sweet movie.

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#11
Venus Of Willendorf (24,000 BC – 22,000 BC)
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Venus of Willendorf is the female icon of the Ice Age. The four-inch-tall figurine has prominent private
parts but no feet or facial features. Braids, or perhaps a knit cap, cover her head, and pigment spots
indicate that the tan limestone artifact was once red. The figurine was discovered in 1908, about a
week into excavations at Willendorf II, an Austrian site along the Danube River about 50 miles from
Vienna.
MatthiasKabelReport

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OnAFreakingRollercoaster 2 years ago javascript:void(0)

Hey! Who gave them permission to make a sculpture of me ?! /S

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There is so much potential to find something and there are so many mysteries to solve but the expert
wouldn’t dare to guess what the next big find could be. Although based on previous discoveries he
believes “it will be in the least likely place. Some kid will find it while hiking with his dog, or some
archivist will discover a new letter she overlooked before.”

Such crazy stories truly happened before, “Someone finds an original copy of the Gettysburg Address
inside an old book, a Picasso on the wall of a rented apartment in Chicago, or an early photograph of
Edgar Allen Poe at a garage sale.”

#12
The Divje Babe Flute (50,000 BC)
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The Divje Babe flute is a piece of a cave bear's femur, perforated with spaced holes, and is
approximately 50,000 years old. As people's perceptions of Neanderthals shift from barbaric,
uncivilized brutes to more educated individuals, there is widespread agreement that the Divje Babe
flute is a musical instrument. Discovered in a cave in Slovenia in 1995, the Divje Babe flute might be
the oldest musical instrument.
Petar MiloševićReport

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Stephanie Did It 2 years ago javascript:void(0)

Not quite. It's the oldest *discovered* musical instrument.

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#13
Machu Picchu (1420–1530 AD)
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Machu Picchu, one of the most visited archaeological sites on the planet, is a 15th-century Inca site
perched high on a mountainside in Peru. In 1911, the late Hiram Bingham III, a Yale University
professor, rediscovered the site. Until then, the ancient ruins had escaped the notice of Spanish
conquistadors and settlers. Many archaeologists believe Machu Picchu was once the royal estate of
Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui, an Inca ruler from the 14th century.
Zielonamapa.plReport

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Randolph Croft 2 years ago javascript:void(0)

Machu Picchu before they cleaned it up....=>Screen-Sho...e5-png.jpg

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While major discoveries might happen by accident, historians and archeologists will still conduct
research and choose somewhere to start from, “There are many hot fields of research right now. In
my particular area of study, much history has been ignored, such as African American History, Native
American History and other neglected subjects. This offers a world of history to be discovered.”
ADVERTISEMENT

If you don’t hear about new knowledge about our past being discovered, it doesn’t mean that
historians and archeologists are vacationing, “We are discovering the stories and related artifacts on
subjects like the Underground Railroad, Slavery and the private lives of individuals. In other fields
discoveries have been made in Egypt, Central America and Eastern Europe.”

Actually there is so much action going on that the historian thinks “we are on the edge of a new age in
discovery!”

#14
Galileo's Telescopes (In Year 1609)
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Everything Galileo Galilei touched is famous in some way. He changed the understanding of the solar
system and contributed a lot to the founding of modern astronomy. He did that using mainly his
telescopes. Galileo's telescopes are some of the most famous artifacts there are.
ZdeReport

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Jrog 2 years ago (edited) javascript:void(0)

The original wood and leather telescope preserved in Florence has a magnification of 22X. As a comparison, today you can buy
a kid's telescope for 20$ that can be capable of 40x or even 60x, and hobby telescopes can go up to 600x for less than 100$.
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#15
Dead Sea Scrolls (300 BC – 100 BC)
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The Dead Sea Scrolls are an ancient manuscript collection discovered in the Qumran Caves near the
West Bank. The Dead Sea Scrolls, which consist of 981 pieces of textual evidence in total, are among
the most famous ancient artifacts of all time. The manuscripts were stored in fortified clay jars and
were preserved by the dry Qumran climate.