When did archaeology's tools change?
History of archaeology
guess the exact year of key moments in history of archaeology.
Classifying objects, checking their age and recording an excavation are different tasks. Explore five milestones in archaeological methods, institutions and heritage protection.
Five rounds. Each guess scores according to how close you are to the exact year.
Open the timeline and reveal the years
These are the five answer years.
- 1836: Thomsen publishes his explanation of the three-age system.
- 1879: the Archaeological Institute of America is founded in Boston.
- 1949: Libby and Arnold publish their test of radiocarbon dating in Science.
- 1973: Edward Harris develops the Harris Matrix.
- 1992: the Valletta Convention on archaeological heritage is adopted.
context
Before you play
Thomsen published a classification into Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages. The AIA brought together people interested in archaeological research. Libby and Arnold tested radiocarbon dating against samples of known age. Harris represented an excavation's sequence in a diagram. The Valletta Convention made archaeological conservation a goal of urban and regional planning.
significance
Why this collection matters
The timeline connects five tasks: classification, research organisation, age estimation, sequence recording and heritage conservation. Each question identifies a specific event.
guide
Moments that shaped this story
Thomsen publishes his explanation of the three-age system.
The Archaeological Institute of America is founded in Boston.
Libby and Arnold publish their age comparison in Science.
Edward Harris develops the Harris Matrix.
The Valletta Convention on archaeological heritage is adopted.
questions
Before you start
1Do the Harris Matrix and radiocarbon dating provide the same information?
The matrix represents the relative order of layers and other units at a site. Radiocarbon dating estimates the age of organic remains from their carbon-14 content.
2Which date of the Valletta Convention does the game ask for?
Its adoption in Malta. Entry into force came later; the game distinguishes these two events.
transparency
Sources consulted
Automated verification · 2026-10-28T09:05:51.407Z · version 1.
- Christian Thomsen — Linda Hall Library
- History — Archaeological Institute of America
- Willard Libby and Radiocarbon Dating — American Chemical Society
- 50 years of the Harris Matrix Takes Florence by Storm! — National Museum of Bermuda
- Convention for the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage of Europe (revised) — Council of Europe