The concept of ethnoarchaeology is best illustrated in the artifacts found by the archaeologists in Jordan. For example material remains left by the ancient people of Tall al-Umayri can be linked to the ingenious descendants of the old civilizations. Such instances include the bones of goats and sheep found in dig sites which are evidence of a process of churning yoghurt, butter or cheese inside a dead goat or sheep that still exists today. Seeds from vegetation and wheat or barley in storage jars found in the site show that the idea of small private plots to grow food for the family goes way back. That is not say that the older generations, like people today did not sell or buy food. They use measuring weights, such as the ancient ones found in sites, to find the value of the food they sell. Also used both in ancient times and today are grinding stones on which grain was ground to make bread. Natives of Tall al- Umayri have found that storing water in ceramic pots or jars keeps the water cold to drink, we can infer that this knowledge was passed on to today’s people by older generations because of the ceramic potsherds found in dig sites.
The houses inhabited by the people of Jordan today are similar in many ways to the animal skin tents, caves and stone houses of the ancient civilizations. People who keep animals as pets, cattle or transport in Jordan today have cobbled floors just like their ancestors so that the animal excretion and hay are easier to clean. As well, the hearths found in old caves, are similar to those still being used for cooking purposes near the site. In some areas of Jordan people still live in goat or donkey skin tents which would explain the donkey bones with stretch marks found during the excavation.
The traditional ways of making clothes hasn’t been lost in Jordan. Loom weights found in archaeological sites mean that upright loom had been used, like they do today. The loom was spun using spindle whorls similar to ones still being used with bone spatulas that have been over time replaced by wooden ones. Also the people of Tall al- Umayri have similar hand cymbol musical instruments to which their ancestors had used.
In conclusion archaeological evidence can be clearly defined through ethnography. Many artifacts used by ancient civilizations are still around today, modified over generations. The ways of living have been passed on from pre-historic times till today, where in some places they are still alive.
