Why do historians use archaeology as a source of African history?
Archeology helps to reveal the kind of trade contacts that existed among people in the past. Since writing began late in most parts of the continent, archeology has become the main source of information for the reconstruction of African history of the distant past.
Why is archaeology an important source of information of prehistory?
Answer: The purpose of archaeology is to learn more about past societies and the development of the human race. Over 99\% of the development of humanity has occurred within prehistoric cultures, who did not make use of writing, thereby no written records exist for study purposes.
Why is it important to study African history?
African history provides insight into the ideas that shaped the past lives of African men and women. By studying African history, students develop a better understanding of the continent, its people and the world in general.
Is archaeology a source of history?
These approaches did not have the same consonances between the archaeological record and primary historical sources as Lewis-Williams’s, both because the archaeological records were less detailed, and because the historical materials simply did not provide enough detail to work with, at least without more critical …
How does archaeology help us understand history and culture?
Archaeology helps us understand not only where and when people lived on the earth, but also why and how they have lived, examining the changes and causes of changes that have occurred in human cultures over time, seeking patterns and explanations of patterns to explain everything from how and when people first came to …
What is archaeological source?
Archaeological sources include buildings, houses, pottery, seals , coins, monuments , writings and paintings on stones or walls , tools, jewellery, bones, leftovers, pieces of metals and other artefacts.Monuments are old buildings or other old structures which are important for their historic connection or legacy and …
Is there a systematic archaeological study of Africa’s pasts?
Yet systematic archaeological study of Africa’s pasts is relatively recent and characterized by significant temporal and geographical disparities; some time periods and areas have seen considerably more intensive research than others.
Why should we study Africa’s past?
As such, knowledge of Africa’s past is central to understanding our species’ deep history; the diverse pathways of our social, technological, and political economic development; and the mutually entangled character of our continentally siloed histories.
Why has African history been a challenge for researchers?
African history has been a challenge for researchers because of scarce written sources in many regions, especially sub – Saharan Africa. Prejudice against black Africans in particular, which goes far back in history, has meant that African history has been dictated by Eurocentric or even racist research.
What is the most important source of African history?
Another important source of African history is oral tradition. Oral tradition is culture, traditions, events and stories passed on from generation to generation. They may take form in Oral tradition, and oral lore is cultural material and traditions transmitted orally from one generation to another.