Who is most likely to determine the location of an ancient temple? a. Archaeologist b. Anthropologist c. Historian

History · High School · Tue Nov 03 2020

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a. Archaeologist

Archaeologists are most likely to determine the location of an ancient temple. They are trained to study ancient cultures and civilizations through their material remains such as artifacts, structures, and landscapes. Archaeologists engage in fieldwork to discover and excavate sites where ancient communities lived and conducted their activities, including religious practices. When looking for an ancient temple, they may use a variety of techniques such as surveying, mapping, and sometimes remote sensing technologies like ground-penetrating radar to identify potential locations. Once the site is located, they can conduct excavations to reveal more about the structure and its uses.

Archaeology as a field of study is a branch of anthropology, which is the broader study of human societies and cultures. Archaeology focuses specifically on the physical evidence of past human activities. When archaeologists look for ancient temples, they often start with historical records or local legends that can provide clues to where these religious buildings might be found. However, they don't just look for buildings themselves; they also look for evidence of the activities that took place around the temple, such as ceremonial objects, offerings, or any signs of human alteration to the landscape.

Anthropologists, on the other hand, tend to focus on the cultural aspects, social structures, languages, and behaviors of current and past human societies. They might be interested in the rituals and practices that occurred in an ancient temple but are less likely to be involved in the physical location of the temple itself.

Historians typically deal with written records to study the past events, societies, and people. While they can provide the context for the period when the temple was in use and may even have records of its existence, they don't usually engage in fieldwork to locate or excavate ancient structures. Their work, however, can be crucial in guiding archaeologists where to look for such structures.