How has literature helped archaeology?

1. What is the relationship between archaeology and literature?
2. Is literature a part of archaeology?
3. What is literary archaeology?
4. Do you agree that archaeological evidence often helps in better understanding of literary sources?

What is the relationship between archaeology and literature?

The difference between archaeological and literary sources are: Archaeological sources include buildings, artefacts, coins etc while literary sources include books and biographies. Archaeological sources are the primary sources while literary sources are primary as well as secondary sources.

Is literature a part of archaeology?

Archaeology has always used literature as a source of information, almost as a confirmation of the interpretation of the sites or behaviours we study. From classical authors to contemporary novels the description of landscapes, buildings, objects… was used by archaeologists.

What is literary archaeology?

It is generally used as a way of describing the recovery of lost documents, manuscripts or literature in the archives; just as archaeologists uncover buried fragments and remains, so the literary archaeologist or writer excavates and unearths previously unknown information in order to enrich our understanding of a ...

Do you agree that archaeological evidence often helps in better understanding of literary sources?

Archaeological excavations on the other hand can be helpful in verifying the age and events mentioned in ancient texts beyond reasonable doubt. However, even archaeological evidence doesn't provide a full picture of events that occured in the ancient past. This is because material remains don't survive everywhere.