--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Archaeology can be overlooked as a…" description: "\"Archaeology can be overlooked as a discipline, I think, but it's incredibly important to have this other way of approaching the past - not just through..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6e/alice-roberts-6136_archaeology_archaeology-can-be-overlooked-as-a-disci_2600821.jpg" --- # Archaeology can be overlooked as a discipline, I think… ![“Archaeology can be overlooked as a discipline, I think, but it's incredibly important to have this other way of approaching the past - not just through historical documents, but through actual physical remains - objects, buildings and the layout of our towns.” quote by Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6e/alice-roberts-6136_archaeology_archaeology-can-be-overlooked-as-a-disci_2600821.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6e/alice-roberts-6136_archaeology_archaeology-can-be-overlooked-as-a-disci_2600821.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6e/alice-roberts-6136_archaeology_archaeology-can-be-overlooked-as-a-disci_2600821.jpg) > “Archaeology can be overlooked as a discipline, I think, but it's incredibly important to have this other way of approaching the past - not just through historical documents, but through actual physical remains - objects, buildings and the layout of our towns.” [Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Archaeology offers a tangible way to understand the past beyond written records, using physical remains. **In simple terms:** Archaeology reveals history through objects, not just texts. Key Takeaway Value material evidence in studying history. Themes archaeology history material culture Mood curious analytical Type educational informative When to use this quote - museum curation - urban planning - education - tourism Key Concepts anthropology heritage preservation Questions to Reflect On - How do artifacts change historical narratives? - What can be learned from lost sites? A Different Perspective Preservation challenges may limit access to sites. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Archaeology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/archaeology/) [Buildings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buildings/) [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Historical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [In archaeology you uncover the unknown. In diplomacy you cover the known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-archaeology-you-uncover-the-unknown-in-diplomacy-you-cover-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am convinced that the stratigraphic method will in the future enable archaeology to throw far more light on the history of American culture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/i-am-convinced-that-the-stratigraphic-method-will-in-the-future/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [History may be accurate. But archaeology is precise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-scott/history-may-be-accurate-but-archaeology-is-precise/) [Doug Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-scott/) > [I'm not an academic; I'm not an archaeologist. I'm a writer, communicating ideas to the public. There is a model of how the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-hancock/i-m-not-an-academic-i-m-not-an-archaeologist-i-m-a-writer/) [Graham Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-hancock/) > [One of the things that I love to do is travel around the world and look at archaeological sites. Because archaeology gives us an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-myhrvold/one-of-the-things-that-i-love-to-do-is-travel-around-the-world-and/) [Nathan Myhrvold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-myhrvold/) > [“Archaeology is a deeply conservative discipline and I have found that archaeologists, no matter where they are working, have a horror of questioning anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-hancock/archaeology-is-a-deeply-conservative-discipline-and-i-have-found-that/) [Graham Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-hancock/) > [Archaeology is not a science, it's a vendetta.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-wheeler/archaeology-is-not-a-science-it-s-a-vendetta/) Mortimer Wheeler > [Dead archaeology is the driest dust that blows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-wheeler/dead-archaeology-is-the-driest-dust-that-blows/) Mortimer Wheeler > [“Aside from criminology, I’d say archaeology has the highest body count.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/aside-from-criminology-i-d-say-archaeology-has-the-highest-body-count/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Archaeology is the peeping Tom of the sciences. It is the sandbox of men who care not where they are going; they merely want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-bishop/archaeology-is-the-peeping-tom-of-the-sciences-it-is-the-sandbox-of/) [Jim Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-bishop/) > [You know, many people believe that we archaeologists are just a collection of old fogies digging around in the ruins after old dried up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/griffin-jay/you-know-many-people-believe-that-we-archaeologists-are-just-a/) [Griffin Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/griffin-jay/) > [For me archaeology is not a source of illustrations for written texts, but an independent source of historical information, with no less value and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-me-archaeology-is-not-a-source-of-illustrations-for-written-texts/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [On the whole, mental archaeology was a sordid digging proposition. The evil men did endured, the good was infinitely more ephemeral. You could generally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-kieran-reilly/on-the-whole-mental-archaeology-was-a-sordid-digging-proposition-the/) [Helen Kieran Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-kieran-reilly/) > [Archaeology, I found, comprehended all manner of excitement and achievement. Adventure is coupled with bookish toil. Romantic excursions go hand in hand with scholarly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/archaeology-i-found-comprehended-all-manner-of-excitement-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Tedious as it may appear to some to dwell on the discovery of odds and ends that have, no doubt, been thrown away by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustus-pitt-rivers/tedious-as-it-may-appear-to-some-to-dwell-on-the-discovery-of-odds/) Augustus Pitt Rivers ## More by Alice Roberts > [Our ape legs make us great generalists - we can walk, run and climb. But when you try to do too many things at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/our-ape-legs-make-us-great-generalists-we-can-walk-run-and-climb-but/) [Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/) > [Pagan Romans started their midwinter celebrations with the feast of Saturnalia on 17 December, ending them with a new year festival, the Kalendae Januariae,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/pagan-romans-started-their-midwinter-celebrations-with-the-feast-of/) [Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/) > [I'm slightly obsessed with Moomins. They were my specialist subject on BBC's 'Celebrity Mastermind' a few years ago!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/i-m-slightly-obsessed-with-moomins-they-were-my-specialist-subject-on/) [Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/) > [I gave up meat when I was 18, and it was an ethical decision. I loved the taste, and went on holiday to Greece,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/i-gave-up-meat-when-i-was-18-and-it-was-an-ethical-decision-i-loved/) [Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/) > [As an anthropologist, I believe strongly in our common humanity. We can rise above the tribal divisions that have caused so much anguish and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/as-an-anthropologist-i-believe-strongly-in-our-common-humanity-we-can/) [Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/) > [If a group of humans began to run regularly, perhaps allowing them to hunt or scavenge more effectively, anatomical changes would follow, especially among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/if-a-group-of-humans-began-to-run-regularly-perhaps-allowing-them-to/) [Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/) > [The real hallmarks of humanity are: curiosity and an amazing ability to cooperate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/the-real-hallmarks-of-humanity-are-curiosity-and-an-amazing-ability/) [Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/) > [I've always loved the seaside and I used to be a fairly keen surfer, but it's a solitary activity so when my husband and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/i-ve-always-loved-the-seaside-and-i-used-to-be-a-fairly-keen-surfer/) [Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/) > [It's tempting to look back into history with rose-tinted glasses. Most people in the Stone Age didn't live anywhere near as long as we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/it-s-tempting-to-look-back-into-history-with-rose-tinted-glasses-most/) [Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/) > [It is so stimulating for young children to hear someone who does science talking about it. It can be so exciting and inspiring. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/it-is-so-stimulating-for-young-children-to-hear-someone-who-does/) [Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/) > [The paleo diet is utter nonsense - it is such pseudoscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/the-paleo-diet-is-utter-nonsense-it-is-such-pseudoscience/) [Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/) > [In fact, humans have less variation genetically than chimpanzees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/in-fact-humans-have-less-variation-genetically-than-chimpanzees/) [Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/) > [It's incredible that the layout of the centre of Chester, for instance, is still essentially that of the original Roman fort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/it-s-incredible-that-the-layout-of-the-centre-of-chester-for-instance/) [Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/) > [More useful than beautiful perhaps, my favourite regular programme is 'Question Time'. And Charlie Brooker is just hilarious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/more-useful-than-beautiful-perhaps-my-favourite-regular-programme-is/) [Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/) > [Whatever happens to science in schools, there's something peculiar going on if students don't see it as creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/whatever-happens-to-science-in-schools-there-s-something-peculiar/) [Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/) [Explore all 100 Alice Roberts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/) ## More Archaeology quotes > [In archaeology you uncover the unknown. In diplomacy you cover the known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-archaeology-you-uncover-the-unknown-in-diplomacy-you-cover-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's very important to reveal the mystery of the pyramid. Science in archaeology is very important. People all over the world are waiting to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zahi-hawass/it-s-very-important-to-reveal-the-mystery-of-the-pyramid-science-in/) [Zahi Hawass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zahi-hawass/) > [Archaeology, I found, comprehended all manner of excitement and achievement. Adventure is coupled with bookish toil. Romantic excursions go hand in hand with scholarly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/archaeology-i-found-comprehended-all-manner-of-excitement-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Archaeology is the anthropology of the past, and science fiction is the anthropology of the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-d-vinge/archaeology-is-the-anthropology-of-the-past-and-science-fiction-is/) [Joan D. Vinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-vinge/) > [“Biological evidence indicates that man, evolving with his food plants, developed horticulture and agriculture in both hemispheres at a time which may well have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/biological-evidence-indicates-that-man-evolving-with-his-food-plants/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [On the whole, mental archaeology was a sordid digging proposition. The evil men did endured, the good was infinitely more ephemeral. You could generally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-kieran-reilly/on-the-whole-mental-archaeology-was-a-sordid-digging-proposition-the/) [Helen Kieran Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-kieran-reilly/) > [On the whole … archaeological work has unquestionably strengthened confidence in the reliability of the Scriptural record. More than one archaeologist has found his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millar-burrows/on-the-whole-archaeological-work-has-unquestionably-strengthened/) Millar Burrows > [“...If she were studying Orciny, and there might be excellent reasons to do so, she'd be doing her doctorate in Folklore or Anthropology or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/china-mi-ville/if-she-were-studying-orciny-and-there-might-be-excellent-reasons-to/) [China Miéville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/china-mi-ville/) > [Many years ago, when I was once saying sadly to Max it was a pity I couldn't have taken up archaeology when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/many-years-ago-when-i-was-once-saying-sadly-to-max-it-was-a-pity-i/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [We, including many Christians, read the Bible through "eyes" conditioned by, and even accommodated to, modern Western culture plus the influences of messages and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-e-olson/we-including-many-christians-read-the-bible-through-eyes-conditioned/) [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) > [For me archaeology is not a source of illustrations for written texts, but an independent source of historical information, with no less value and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-me-archaeology-is-not-a-source-of-illustrations-for-written-texts/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I studied archaeology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-sprouse/i-studied-archaeology/) [Cole Sprouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-sprouse/) > [You know, many people believe that we archaeologists are just a collection of old fogies digging around in the ruins after old dried up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/griffin-jay/you-know-many-people-believe-that-we-archaeologists-are-just-a/) [Griffin Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/griffin-jay/) > [Every child thinks archaeology is about digging up land to find dinosaur remains and gold. I had the same intentions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhuvan-bam/every-child-thinks-archaeology-is-about-digging-up-land-to-find/) [Bhuvan Bam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhuvan-bam/) > [Ancient barrows get cleared away. Legislation is pretty much 19th century. Global warming means there is an awful lot of erosion, exposing new archaeology,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robinson/ancient-barrows-get-cleared-away-legislation-is-pretty-much-19th/) [Tony Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robinson/) [Browse all 116 Archaeology quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/archaeology/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Archaeology can be overlooked as a discipline, I think, but it's incredibly important to have this other way of approaching the past - not just through historical documents, but through actual physical remains - objects, buildings and the layout of our towns.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alice Roberts" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/archaeology-can-be-overlooked-as-a-discipline-i-think-but-it-s/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Archaeology" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/archaeology-can-be-overlooked-as-a-discipline-i-think-but-it-s/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6e/alice-roberts-6136_archaeology_archaeology-can-be-overlooked-as-a-disci_2600821.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6e/alice-roberts-6136_archaeology_archaeology-can-be-overlooked-as-a-disci_2600821.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6e/alice-roberts-6136_archaeology_archaeology-can-be-overlooked-as-a-disci_2600821.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Archaeology can be overlooked as a discipline, I think, but it's incredibly important to have this other way…” — Alice Roberts", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alice Roberts", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Archaeology can be overlooked as a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/archaeology-can-be-overlooked-as-a-discipline-i-think-but-it-s/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/archaeology-can-be-overlooked-as-a-discipline-i-think-but-it-s/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```