Fossils are also interesting research objects for archaeologists who try to trace back the bygone era. These are found by digging up the ground. Likewise, artifacts help archaeologists to figure out details in historic and pre-historic era.įossil is the preserved traces of animals, plants, and other organisms from the remote past. Some artifacts have been buried with dead bodies whereas some could be found from domestic settings. Archaeologists use these to study the culture, habits and lifestyles of people that lived in those periods and also they determine how developed the cultures were by examining these artifacts. Since the human history had so many eras and civilizations, we have got thousands of artifacts, belonging to different periods of time. Moreover, human or animal bones, which have signs of human modification, are also considered to be artifacts. Stone tools, pottery vessels, metal weapons, personal items such as buttons, slippers, clothes, etc. Artifacts have been found in excavations and also from historical sites. Artifacts, which have an archaeological value, may be used to find out about the cultural traits and skills of the people in the bygone era. These could be any tool or a work of art and usually these are used by archaeologists to decide certain things. What is an Artifact?Īrtifact is something made or given shape by humans. Let us look at the terms artifact and fossil and the difference between them in detail. These are interesting research objects for archaeologists those who try to trace back the remote history.
Fossil, on the other hand, can be defined as the remains of the parts of animals or plants from the remote past. Artifacts become important when they become an object of interest of Archaeologists. An artifact can be described as an object made by humans and also it is a work of art. Both artifact and fossil can be defined as the interests of archaeological studies. Official state symbols must be approved by the Legislature and signed by the governor.The key difference between artifact and fossil can be explained simply as follows: the artifact is man-made while the fossil is nature-made. The Chipped Stone Bear, now California’s official prehistoric artifact, joins a list of other official symbols of the Golden State, including its song, insect and dance. Moved on the Assembly floor by Assemblywoman Doris Allen (R-Anaheim), it passed there, 62-4. Dills (D-Gardena) and passed the Senate, 29-1. The Prehistoric Artifact Bill (SB 404) was introduced by state Sen. “It solidifies the connection between the people who selected the bear in the state (as its animal) and the California Indians.” “This is basically a fourth use of the bear motif,” said Ericson, who worked with Koerper and Paul Apodaca, curator of folk art at Santa Ana’s Bowers Museum, in pushing the bill. The grizzly-now extinct in California-is already the state animal and is represented on the state flag and seal. The state’s strong identification with the bear also helped prompt Koerper and colleagues in Orange County to pursue a state designation. They generate some anxiety, particularly grizzlies, and often people treat things that they hold in awe with a special respect.” They’re a powerful animal that became power symbols.
Often enough there’s a particular reverence that people hold for the bears. “All over the world where you find bears. “It is probably some sort of religious item,” he said. He suggested that the Indian creators of the artifact-with its finely carved head, legs, curved back and tail-considered the bear a spiritual symbol. Koerper and some students were digging near Agua Hedionda Lagoon in northern San Diego County when Richard Cerrito, now a graduate student in archeology at UC Riverside, came across the bear about 60 centimeters below ground, the professor said.Īrcheologists used carbon-dating tests on surrounding shells-the inorganic, the volcanic rock itself could not be tested-to estimate that the bear is 7,500 to 8,000 years old, Koerper said. “The current attitude in the state is one of ignorance-people don’t know anything about California Indians,” he said, even though they are one of the biggest Indian groups now recognized in the United States. Larry Myers, a Pomo Indian who is executive secretary of the Native American Heritage Commission, a state agency, said the artifact’s designation takes a small step toward recognizing the state’s cultural roots.