Relation of Archaeology with other subjects

Archaeology is the study of ancient things related to humans. Nowadays archaeology is not
limited to a few works of art or a few things dugout from an ancient site, but it increasingly
adopting the methods of the natural sciences. Let us discuss about some fields to which
archaeology is very much related.
History
It is very much useful for archaeology, history is written on the basis of archaeology.
Through history we can find out literature and new elements are added through excavations
in these documents. Objects can be classified, cities can be named, various aspects of life and
society can be detected through historical literature. Archaeology and history are very closely
related to eachother, each of them is incomplete without the other one. According to Dr. F.A.
Durrani Archaeology has no fruit without history and history has no roots without
archaeology.
Zoology
Zoology is the study of animals. As we know human is also a social animal and is with a
contact with animals from the past. Animals were used by human to fulfill their needs.
Human domesticated animals and used them for several purposes, such as for worm cloths,
food purposes, transportation and helped in agriculture etc. So the remains of animals form an
important part of archaeological data. So Zoology can help us in detecting the kind of food,
bone tools and transportation of people in a certain site. We can reconstruct the
environmental condition of a site through study of zoology, we can detect that what kind of
animals were found there, whether they are domesticated or hunted, even the death reason.
We can get the idea about the substances pattern of ancient people, extinct animals and the
causes for their extinction. Archaeology and zoology are so close related to each other that
separate branch of archaeology deals with remains of animals is called Zoo archaeology.
Palaeontology
It is the branch of zoology, it helps greatly in bone remains of living beings and help us in
determining various aspects i.e. cause of death (disease, injury, sudden and butchering
techniques), age at which the organism died, to which species did it belong, its food habits,
dating method. The chapter of evolution is completely based on palaeontology.
Botany
Botany is the study of plants and can help us in the plant study for environmental condition.
We can judge a climatic condition in a certain site through plant study. On the basis of
presence of certain plants we can say whether they had worm or cold climate or moderate.
Bad weather can also be distinguish by non-availability of a wood in a site. We know
different species of plants through microscopic study of pollen/seed found in a site. It also
helps in detecting agriculture and food habits of people in past. Botany can assist us in
preservation of antiquity through natural floral elements and we can save skeleton and
sculptures from breaking through botanical appliances like cellulose wax. Dendrochronology
is also concerned with botany. In aerial photography the identification of archaeological sites
is possible through skill in botany.
Chemistry
It helps in understanding the organic aspects by study of the organic remains. It also helps in
detecting wood, charcoal, skin and bone in a site. Chemistry is applied in carbon dating
method, Thermo luminescence and Potassium Argon dating methods. Moreover nowadays an
elaborate chemistry lab is the requirement of all museums to prevent the damage of antiquity
and to repair the damaged antiquities.
Physics
It is the age of science and technology. Physics is the king of sciences and is more helpful in
everyday life. Physics can help us by providing different kind of instruments used in several
fields of archaeology. The instruments used in survey and measurement are also the product
of physics. Potassium Argon and Palaeolmagnetism dating method are also based on physics.
Highly equipped labs for researches are also the gifts of physics.
Geography
It helps in understanding the surrounding of the site, its neighbouring countries, cities, river,
towers, roads, deserts and mountains etc. Trade routes can be marked through geography,
sources of food and water can also be detected through it. Weather, rainfall and storm can
also be detected through geo study. Map of a site can be made through skill in geography.
Geology
It helps in differenciating the material found in a site, wheather it was imported of
indigenous. Geology can help us in understanding nature of soil, nature of raw material/
stone, characteristics of raw material, stratigraphy and dating method. The analysis of rocks/
stones also need skill in geology.
Computer Science
The greatest invention of the 20th century is considered to be computer. Like other subjects
archaeology also benefited from computer. It is used in archaeology to organize data,
registration, categorization, cataloguing, preparation of report, publication and printing.
Computer science may also be used for publication archaeological report and findings in
shape of World Wide Web to publicize. Through computer we can visit any site of
archaeological importance.
Economics
Economics played an important role in the rise and fall of a culture and civilization because
every development can only be made with a good and healthy economy and it is rightly said
that good and healthy economy is equal to a great civilization. To understand a culture
properly, the trade and economy has to be studied in great detail. By studying the trade and
economy of subcontinent, we are now able to elaborate their relationship with different part
of the world and on the basis of some material we know that there were good trade links
between the Mesopotamian and Indus Valley Civilizations. Cultural and Archaeological
tourism can also be used for economic development of a country.