The word archaeology is derived from two Greek terms - archaios, meaning "ancient," and logia, meaning "science" or "study of." This originally referred to the study of ancient things, but this study has expanded to include an attempt to reconstruct a past civilization. Classical archaeology deals with the records and artifacts of these ancient civilizations. The study has concentrated primarily on Greece, Rome, Persia, Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, and India. The process involves a survey of the area, and the meticulous gathering of data by excavation and laborious digging with spade and trowel. This is followed by the analysis of the materials to determine the time period and the way of life or culture of that civilization. The preliminary survey may involve aerial photography from balloons or airplanes or from satellites using infra-red film and other devises to detect variations in soil color or ground contour.
Chronological analysis is an important part of archaeology to determine the time period and sequence of the various layers. This is done by relative dating and absolute dating. Relative dating involves stratigraphic study of the arrangement of the artifacts assuming that the oldest remains are at the bottom and the newest on top in a roughly sequential order Another relative dating method is the comparison of distinctive types of pottery called cross dating. Cross dating may also involve plant and animal fossils. Absolute dating may involve verve dating (sedimentary deposits), dendrochronology (tree rings), radiocarbon dating, and potassium-argon dating. By studying tools such as arrow-tips, knives and weapons it can be determined how people obtained and prepared food.
In 1818 Christian Thomsen, curator of the National Museum of Archaeology of Denmark, developed a three-stage chronological system that divided history into the Stone, Bronze, and Iron ages. This was based on the assumption that one of the basic and best known features of civilization and culture is the use of tools. The earliest civilizations following the Noachian Flood used stone tools. This was followed by the extensive use of gold and silver metallic instruments, probably due to the availability as precious metals that could be easily hammered or molded. This was followed by advances in metallurgy that produced bronze from copper, tin and zinc. Finally, man was able to extract iron from ore and produce superior weapons and tools.
The sequence of gold - silver - bronze - iron to represent the progress of civilizations is graphically pictured by the prophet Daniel. In chapter 2 Nebuchadnezzar has a dream of a great image with a head of gold, breast and arms of silver, thighs of bronze, legs of gold, and feet of a mixture of iron and clay. Daniel's inspired interpretation identified this image as representing a historical sequence of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. The mixture of iron and clay is a perfect description of the division of Rome into ten kingdoms. It is also a good description of the concrete civilization of today. The final historical event in the dream is the smiting of the image by a great stone. The subsequent obliteration of the image pictures the final destruction of the kingdoms of mankind to be followed by the kingdom of God represented by the stone. This is the "new stone age."
