Archaeologist and anthropologist Todd Surovell, freshly back from fieldwork in Mongolia, studies the factors that structure the archaeological record, from human decision-making to site formation. In this Hangout, he speaks with senior editor Sandra J. Ackerman about how he uses artifacts to understand why people choose certain locations to do various behaviors. His work is informed by observations of existing hunter-gatherers in order to determine how people decide where to do what they do, and how such decisions may be manifested spatially in the archaeological record.

A Storify of the Tweets detailing the discussion is shown below.

Prehistoric Decisions Preserved in Artifacts

How can observing modern human behavior teach us about the past? Understanding how people use the space around them could help solve archaeological questions. In a Google Hangout hosted by American Scientist, Sigma Xi Distinguished Lecturer Todd Surovell shared tales of observing Mongolian nomads.

1. 

   In 1 hour, 15:30 EST, #Prehistoric Decisions Preserved in Artifacts!  http://bit.ly/1JYFY2T  Hear from Todd Surovell pic.twitter.com/m0HBCbqFSX

   American Scientist@AmSciMag

   ·

   Thu, Feb 04 2016 19:31:08

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2. 

   Today's #AmSciGHO speaker is Todd Surovell of Univ of Wyoming's #anthropology dept  https://plus.google.com/events/c6paitvrhaiaa9kf908jodjvvi0 … #uwyo pic.twitter.com/xOTtQ0x7DA

   American Scientist@AmSciMag

   ·

   Thu, Feb 04 2016 19:44:10

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3. 

   American Scientist@AmSciMag

   Todd Surovell recently returned from fieldwork in Mongolia  http://www.uwyo.edu/surovell/  #AmSciGHO

   Thu, Feb 04 2016 20:30:18

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4. 

   American Scientist@AmSciMag

   Sorry about our technical difficulties. New link to hangout is:  https://plus.google.com/events/c733hcqhbjgs2t8lm7kca6l66t0 … We will start in a few minutes #AmsciGHO

   Thu, Feb 04 2016 20:44:20

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5. 

   American Scientist@AmSciMag

   Todd Surovell works in ethnoarchaeology is study of living people to determine the #archaeological record. #AmSciGHO

   Thu, Feb 04 2016 20:49:28

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6. 

   American Scientist@AmSciMag

   Todd Surovell studies Mongolia's Dukha reindeer herders to develop spatial theory of human behavior for archaeological projects. #AmsciGHO

   Thu, Feb 04 2016 20:51:33

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7. 

   American Scientist@AmSciMag

   Nomadic Dukha reindeer herders in Mongolia move for reasons such as wolves threatening their herds. #AmsciGHo

   Thu, Feb 04 2016 20:53:48

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8. 

   American Scientist@AmSciMag

   Mongolian nomadic people commonly use #solarenergy. They buy solar panels and battery, charge battery during the day for night. #AmSciGHO

   Thu, Feb 04 2016 20:55:58

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9. 

   Dianne Timblin@diannetimblin

   New link to Google hangout w/ ethnoarchaeologist & anthropologist Todd Surovell abt his work in Mongolia--LIVE now  https://twitter.com/AmSciMag/status/695347177913057281 …

   Thu, Feb 04 2016 20:53:25

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10. 

    Fenella Saunders@fenellasaunders

    #amscigho: No one in Mongolia resists using #solar power because there's no other choice. LIVE NOW  https://plus.google.com/b/105912012577473692435/events/c733hcqhbjgs2t8lm7kca6l66t0 …

    Thu, Feb 04 2016 20:55:46

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11. 

    Dianne Timblin@diannetimblin

    Todd Surovell: It's fairly common to use solar power for homes in Mongolia--often the only choice. Used mostly for light & TV. #AmsciGHO

    Thu, Feb 04 2016 20:56:07

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12. 

    Fenella Saunders@fenellasaunders

    And they pack their solar panels and TVs on reindeer as well, he says! #amscigho  https://twitter.com/AmSciMag/status/695349559636025345 …

    Thu, Feb 04 2016 20:56:45

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13. 

    American Scientist@AmSciMag

    Todd Surovell: Every Dukha family has identifying mark on reindeer cut into the reindeer's fur. Avg is 30 animals per family. #AmsciGHO

    Thu, Feb 04 2016 20:57:56

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14. 

    Dianne Timblin@diannetimblin

    Todd Surovell: Reindeer are used only sparingly for meat among Mongolian nomads--animals too valuable to be used much for food. #AmsciGHO

    Thu, Feb 04 2016 20:58:52

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15. 

    American Scientist@AmSciMag

    Todd Surovell: People study architecture for long time, but nobody studied how people use space for nomadic context. #AmsciGHO

    Thu, Feb 04 2016 21:01:36

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16. 

    Dianne Timblin@diannetimblin

    Todd Surovell: Realized that we haven't spent enough time studying why people use interior space the way they do. #AmsciGHO

    Thu, Feb 04 2016 21:02:06

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17. 

    Dianne Timblin@diannetimblin

    Todd Surovell: This had been studied in other contexts via archaeology, but not for nomadic living spaces. #AmsciGHO

    Thu, Feb 04 2016 21:03:19

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18. 

    American Scientist@AmSciMag

    T Surovell: We use time lapsed photos to track nomadic people, get data on how people choose to use space #AmSciGHo

    Thu, Feb 04 2016 21:03:07

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19. 

    Fenella Saunders@fenellasaunders

    #amscigho: Todd Surovell took images ev 2-4 min of Mongolian reindeer herder camps to map where people do things

    Thu, Feb 04 2016 21:03:21

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20. 

    American Scientist@AmSciMag

    Todd Surovell: Studying how living, nomadic people use space can inform past decisions in the archaeological record #AmSciGHO #archaeology

    Thu, Feb 04 2016 21:04:27

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21. 

    Fenella Saunders@fenellasaunders

    #amscigho: Mongolian archaeological sites show a concentration of stone tools toward the back of the house. Why is that?

    Thu, Feb 04 2016 21:00:26

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22. 

    Dianne Timblin@diannetimblin

    ToddSurovell:Impression so far in resrch is that individual eccentricities aren't often governing how nomadic interior spaces used #AmsciGHO

    Thu, Feb 04 2016 21:06:20

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23. 

    Fenella Saunders@fenellasaunders

    #amscigho: Both men and women seem to hang out in or near the kitchen, even among reindeer herders. Anecdotal but not studied before.

    Thu, Feb 04 2016 21:09:20

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24. 

    American Scientist@AmSciMag

    T Surovell: Light distribution changes through seasons, changes where people do tasks; this can help in #archaeology projects #AmSciGHO

    Thu, Feb 04 2016 21:09:22

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25. 

    Dianne Timblin@diannetimblin

    Todd Surovell: Among Mongolian nomads, kitchen traditionally on east side house. Considered "women's side" but all hang out there #AmsciGHO

    Thu, Feb 04 2016 21:10:29

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26. 

    Fenella Saunders@fenellasaunders

    #amscigho: Mongolian reindeer herders hang out in the kitchen even when it's not the warmest part of the house. - Todd Surovell @UWyonews

    Thu, Feb 04 2016 21:10:59

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27. 

    American Scientist@AmSciMag

    T Surovell: Temperate affects where people go inside house. In cold, they go closer to fire. This can inform #archaeology projects #AmSciGHo

    Thu, Feb 04 2016 21:11:33

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28. 

    Fenella Saunders@fenellasaunders

    #amscigho: Can find up to 25K pieces of stone-tool artifacts in a spot. Signs of cleaning, sweeping up and dumping.

    Thu, Feb 04 2016 21:12:45

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29. 

    Dianne Timblin@diannetimblin

    ToddSurovell:Dense matter that has escaped the broom, in interior corners, studied to learn more abt what finds its way into home #AmsciGHO

    Thu, Feb 04 2016 21:15:52

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30. 

    Fenella Saunders@fenellasaunders

    #amscigho: Clunky artifacts covered with errors could be evidence of kids learning the trade from adults. - Todd Surovell @UWyonews

    Thu, Feb 04 2016 21:16:30

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31. 

    Dianne Timblin@diannetimblin

    Todd Surovell:Closer spaces more likely to be used w/in interior spaces than farther ones; also warmer/shaded, depending on temps #AmsciGHO

    Thu, Feb 04 2016 21:20:58

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32. 

    Dianne Timblin@diannetimblin

    Todd Surovell:Way of life changes dramatically betw summer & winter, but details can be hard to discern thru archaeological record #AmsciGHO

    Thu, Feb 04 2016 21:22:11

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33. 

    Fenella Saunders@fenellasaunders

    #amscigho: Once study reindeer herders in all 4 seasons, will have better insight to seasonal changes in archaeological record.

    Thu, Feb 04 2016 21:21:24

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34. 

    American Scientist@AmSciMag

    Todd Surovell wanted to go into zoology when he was younger; now he studies two-legged animals (humans) #AmsciGHO

    Thu, Feb 04 2016 21:25:07

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35. 

    Fenella Saunders@fenellasaunders

    #amscigho: Todd Surovell says his research has brought him around to the theory that big animals in NA died out 13KYA bc of human hunting.

    Thu, Feb 04 2016 21:28:54

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36. 

    Fenella Saunders@fenellasaunders

    #amscigho: Todd Surovell says human hunting lg animals to extinction is compelling bc it is a pattern repeated worldwide, not just N. Amer.

    Thu, Feb 04 2016 21:29:59

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37. 

    American Scientist@AmSciMag

    For fieldwork in Mongolia Todd Surovell grew a beard, planned for months of food, learned a new language #fieldworkwin #AmSciGHO

    Thu, Feb 04 2016 21:30:29

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38. 

    Dianne Timblin@diannetimblin

    Todd Surovell: Takes 3 days backcountry travel to reach the nomadic groups he studies in Mongolia #AmsciGHO

    Thu, Feb 04 2016 21:31:18

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39. 

    Dianne Timblin@diannetimblin

    Todd Surovell: Had to learn how to ride horseback for field work in Mongolia. Packs months of food for fellow researchers. #AmsciGHO

    Thu, Feb 04 2016 21:33:04

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40. 

    Fenella Saunders@fenellasaunders

    #amscigho: If kids want to go into #archaeology, be prepared for repetitive tasks, and volunteer for a dig to try it out.

    Thu, Feb 04 2016 21:31:14

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41. 

    American Scientist@AmSciMag

    Todd Surovell: Best way to see if #archaeology is for you to is to volunteer for a dig, spend a week doing it and see how you feel #AmSciGHo

    Thu, Feb 04 2016 21:31:17

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42. 

    American Scientist@AmSciMag

    Thanks to @SigmaXiSociety's Research Triangle Park Chapter in North Carolina for sponsoring today's #AmSciGHO

    Thu, Feb 04 2016 21:32:07

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43. 

    American Scientist@AmSciMag

    Link to Todd Surovell's Dukha Ethnoarchaeological Project website:  https://sites.google.com/site/dukhaethnoarch/ … #AmSciGHO

    Thu, Feb 04 2016 21:34:45

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44. 

    American Scientist@AmSciMag

    To watch the recording of today's #AmSciGHO about how studying modern nomadic people can help archaeology, see  https://plus.google.com/events/c733hcqhbjgs2t8lm7kca6l66t0 …

    Thu, Feb 04 2016 21:35:50

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45. 

    American Scientist@AmSciMag

    This concludes our live tweets. Next #AmSciGHO February 23 with @UMich's Prof of Math Richard Canary. Link to come  https://www.sigmaxi.org/programs/lectureships …

    Thu, Feb 04 2016 21:37:24

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