1. Match the statements (1–3) with methods (A–C) used by archaeologists to find sites. 1. Using scientific instruments to find features under the ground 2. The story of the Siege of Troy
3. The Ardagh Chalice was found by two boys
A. Stories from history B. Chance discoveries C. Geophysical survey
2. Which of the following statements on the work of the archaeologist are true and which are false? Correct the false statements.
(i) Archaeologists depend mostly on artefacts and buildings for their sources. (ii) Crop marks are marks cut into a tree to find out its age. (iii) Rescue archaeology and salvage archaeology are the same. (iv) Sieves are used to survey an area before an archaeological dig. (v) The record of tree-ring dating in Ireland is held in University College Dublin (UCD). (vi) Bones can be used to date sites.
3. Exam Question
Archaeological discoveries add to our knowledge of history. Use the account and photographs below to answer the questions that follow.
In June 2020, a 12-year-old Roscommon student found a five-and-a-half metre long logboat in a local lake. Water levels had dropped after several weeks of dry weather, and the boat was lying in less than half a metre of water.
Archaeologists from the Underwater Archaeology Unit of the National Monuments Service and the National Museum of Ireland inspected the site. The boat was recorded, drawn and photographed before being carefully placed back in the water to keep it waterlogged and protected.
There is an early medieval crannóg just 100 m away in the lake, and it is possible that the logboat dates from the medieval period. It could be much older; logboats have been used on Irish lakes and rivers since the Stone Age (8000–4000 BC).
(a) How did the weather conditions contribute to the discovery of the logboat? (b) Name the two organisations that sent archaeologists to examine the logboat. (c) What is being done with the logboat in the two photographs? (d) If the logboat dates from 4000 BC, approximately how old is it? (e) Name and explain one method that archaeologists could use to date the logboat.
See Chapter 2 in the Skills Book for further questions.
(f) This logboat was an accidental discovery. What are two ways in which archaeologists identify sites for planned archaeological excavations?
(State Examinations Commission (SEC), Junior Cycle Final Examination Sample History Paper) 21